A new study has found that several "forever chemicals" in everyday items is linked to thyroid cancer diagnosis.
PFAS: Forever Chemicals
PFAS, which stands for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances and is commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" due to breakdown resistance, has a strong bond of carbon and fluorine. This stops the chemicals from being broken down easily in the environment. Because of this, these substances persist for several years.
Forever chemicals have been used in several everyday items, including food packaging, nonstick cooking water, stain-resistant fabrics, and water-repellent clothing. They can also be found in household dust, drinking water, and even in the blood of humans.
Forever Chemicals Linked to Thyroid Cancer
Now, researchers from New York City's Mount Sinai Health System have looked into the possible link between n-PFOS (PHAS chemical perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and risk of getting thyroid cancer.
Maaike van Gerwen, a co-author of the study and the research director for the Icahn School of Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology at Mount Sinai, explains that, from what they know, this is the first study to examine the links between thyroid cancer diagnosis risk and PFAS exposure.
Van Gerwen adds that what makes the study unique is that the researchers were able to gauge PFAS in samples of blood that was taken around the time the participants of the study got thyroid cancer diagnoses. They were also able to examine blood samples taken around eight years until a year before the cancer diagnosis was made. Because of this, they were able to look at PFAS as a possible thyroid cancer risk factor.
The researchers examined the links using a biobank, known as BioMe, at the Icahn Mount Sinai that is linked to a medical record. Within it were 88 non-cancer control patients and 88 thyroid cancer patients. Both groups had similar age, race, sex, smoking status, and BMI. The researchers examined the PFAS level difference between the two groups of participants.
They discovered that these forever chemicals have been linked to a 56% heightened risk of getting thyroid cancer. On top of that, they also observed a positive link between risk of getting thyroid cancer and exposure to other PFAS chemicals, including perfluorooctylphosphonic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, linear perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, and perfluorononanoic acid.
Van Gerwen explains that their results show that thyroid cancer risk goes up by 56%, compared to the original risk, when the linear level of PFOS doubles. This means that thyroid cancer diagnosis risk increases as exposure levels go up.
It is important to note that though the heightened risk of 56% may sound alarming, this is a 56% higher risk of the original risk.
In a subset of participants with measurements of PFAS guaged in blood taken a year prior to diagnosis, the researchers discovered other PFAS chemicals linked to thyroid cancer. While risk levels were found to be similar for the other chemicals, it is important to note that the subset analysis was conducted with a smaller sample. This means that the study may need to be replicated with a larger population.
Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.
