Health effects of PFAS

Throughout our lives, we are exposed to numerous pollutants in our environment. Some of them, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), can be harmful to our health. But how do they affect our bodies?

PFAS are a group of 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 that have been used in various industrial and consumer products since 1940 for their water- and grease-resistant properties One of the biggest concerns about PFAS compounds is their 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 in individuals, animals, and the ecosystem over time.

Consequently, human exposure to PFAS occurs mainly through the ingestion of contaminated food and water, as well as inhalation of polluted air. There is growing 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬, such as increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, decreased fertility, reduced vaccine response in children, increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer, etc.

Investigations about the health effects of PFAS are still ongoing. However, it is challenging to define all absolute their absolute downsides since there are 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬. Moreover, the length end types of exposure to these compounds may vary from one people to another.