Hazardous substances linked to cancer and birth defects
Exposure to chemicals made to protect against exposure to water and heat may affect offspring's health, study suggests
< img src="https://static.mk.ru/upload/entities/2024/06/23/09/articles/detailPicture/d8/e8/01/55/3d59de9b6879b2f44afc002c68a21128.jpg" class="article__picture-image" alt ="Hazardous substances linked to cancer and birth defects" />
A new study has shown for the first time that “forever chemicals” PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, PFAS) have implications for children's health.
Toxic chemicals can damage sperm during a sensitive period of development, potentially leading to liver disease and high cholesterol levels, The Guardian reports. especially in male offspring, noted a paper that looked at the chemicals in mice.
This new study is part of a growing body of work that shows how parental exposure to toxic chemicals “can actually impact the health, development and future disease of the next generation,” said Richard Pilsner, who co-authored the study.
< p>“We've always been concerned about the impact of the environment on maternal health because women bear children… But this study does suggest that there is a paternal contribution to the health and development of offspring,” Pilsner added.
As The Guardian explains, PFAS are a class of about 16,000 compounds used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally and have been shown to accumulate in the human body. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth defects, liver disease, thyroid disease, severely low sperm counts, and a variety of other serious health problems.
PFAS alter sperm DNA methylation, which is a process turning genes on and off. Methylation patterns can be inherited through fertilization and influence early development as well as the health of offspring later in life.
This intervention may change genes in a way that affects the liver's production of cholesterol, which may cause it to rise. The researchers also found that the chemicals affected genes associated with neurodevelopment, but the study did not test for potential effects on offspring.
Although “eternal chemicals” Most often accumulate in the blood and liver, they have been found to accumulate in organs throughout the body, as well as in the bones. Finding the chemicals in the testes shows how common they are in mammals, said Michael Petriello, a researcher and study co-author at Wayne State University.
The study found relatively low levels of exposure compared to previous studies. The study also included long-chain and short-chain PFAS, the latter of which the industry says are generally safe and do not accumulate in the body. This study is one of a growing number of studies that show that “safe” PFAS can also be measured in the tissue or blood of mammals.
Water and food are the two main sources of PFAS exposure. There are new federal limits on certain compounds in water, but public health advocates say filtration systems can limit exposure. Men can protect themselves by avoiding nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing, and by learning more about products that commonly contain PFAS.
Recent Comments