THE Pfas, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, never cease to be talked about. Today the accusation against these chemicals, commonly used in household products, would be to increase the risk of developing certain types of hormone-dependent tumorssuch as ovarian cancer, and double your chances of developing it melanoma. This is suggested by new research funded by the US government and published in Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
Pfas and fertility
Let us remember that i Pfas are used in thousands of products for personal care, food packaging, paints and in heat-resistant items (e.g. pans). As we told you a few months ago, one study showed how these substances were able to compromise women’s reproductive capacity. In particular, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai had observed how exposure to Pfas could lead to a higher concentration of these substances in the blood and, consequently, a reduction in fertility of women up to 40%.
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Pfas and tumors
Using data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a biomonitoring program (Nhanes) which involved a total of 10 thousand people Between 2005 and 2018, researchers in the new study found evidence that women diagnosed with certain cancers had been exposed to certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. As the authors explain at GuardianPfas can alter the hormonal functions of women, a potential mechanism for increasing the chances of hormone-related cancers.
In particular, they found differences in different ethnic groups: the associations between Pfas and ovarian and uterine tumors have been observed primarily in white women, while associations between chemicals known as phenols and breast cancer they have been observed mostly in non-white women. While it’s unclear why these differences exist, researchers speculate that they may be due to dietary habits and proximity to contaminated drinking water sources, among other factors. Not only that: the data showed that women with greater exposure to a compound called Pfde were twice as likely to have a previous diagnosis of melanoma.
Prevent and mitigate
Because these are associations, the study does not demonstrate that exposure to PFAS and phenols led to these diagnoses cancerbut it’s a strong signal of how these compounds play a role and should be studied further. “We know there is widespread exposure to these chemicals and we have documented data on this”, commented Max Aung, one of the authors of the study. “These chemicals can increase the risk of various health outcomes Health and alter biological pathways. This is important to be able to better prevent exposures and mitigate risks.”
