Women exposed to toxic “forever chemicals (PFAS)” found in everyday household items, such as furniture, cookware, packaging, and cosmetics, run an increased risk of developing multiple cancers, according to a study funded by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study – published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology on Sunday – found that women who developed breast, ovary, skin, and uterus cancer had significantly high levels of forever chemicals in their bodies.
Those exposed to high levels of a particular chemical known as PFDE (long chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) were twice as likely to have had a previous melanoma diagnosis.
Notably, the researchers did not observe similar outcomes among men, and discovered differences among racial groups. Connections between PFAS and ovarian and uterine cancers were predominantly among white women, whereas phenol chemicals and breast cancer were more common in non-white women.
“People should care about this because we know that there is widespread human exposure to these chemicals and we have documented data on that,” stated assistant professor of environmental health at the USA Kreck School of Medicine Max Aung.
“These chemicals can increase the risk of various different health outcomes and they can alter your biological pathways … That is important to know so that we can better prevent exposures and mitigate risks,” Professor Aung added.
Forever chemicals were also found to be present in just under half of all U.S. drinking water earlier this year. PFAS are known as forever chemicals due to their inability to break down very slowly, if ever.
