A new study has found that exposure to man-made "forever chemicals" can alter children's biological development and cause disease.
The chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl surfactants (PFAS) are used in a wide range of household products and are referred to as "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly and accumulate in the environment and the human body.
Studies have found that these chemicals have been shown to increase the risk of certain diseases. However, a recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that exposure to them can also affect children's biological development, particularly thyroid function, which is of particular concern for children.
“Our findings were surprising and have far-reaching implications for policymakers trying to mitigate risks,” said Jesse Goodrich, assistant professor of population science and public health and lead author of the study. “We found that exposure to a mixture of fluorinated surfactants not only disrupts lipid and amino acid metabolism but also alters thyroid hormone function.”
The researchers took blood samples from two groups: adolescents in the Latino Adolescent Study and children in the Children’s Health Study of Southern California.
They found that all participants had a mixture of fluorinated surfactants (PFAS) in their blood, specifically perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorinanoic acid (PFNA).
They also investigated how fluorescent surfactants affected naturally occurring chemicals in both groups, first measuring the chemicals in the blood and then assessing the levels after exposure to multiple fluorescent surfactants.
According to Goodrich, the effect of fluorescent surfactants on thyroid hormone function was surprising and plays a crucial role in growth and metabolism.
Thyroid hormones are vital for children's growth during puberty and are essential for the development and maturation of many target tissues, including the brain and skeleton.
Impaired thyroid function can increase the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in children.
The researchers also noted that both groups were affected by exposure to a mixture of fluorescent surfactants (PFAS), not just one chemical.
“We’re really beginning to understand the full extent of the impacts these chemicals have on human health,” said Dr. Leda Chatzi, professor of population science and public health and co-author of the study. “While current interventions have focused on phasing out individual fluorinated surfactants (PFAS), such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), this research demonstrates why the focus should be on reducing exposure to all fluorinated surfactants.”