A study shows that women with breast, ovarian, uterine or skin cancer have higher levels of PFAS, chemical compounds, in the body.
- A study shows that women with cancer were more exposed to certain chemical pollutants, such as PFAS.
- Described as eternal pollutants, these chemicals are present everywhere.
- If the study does not prove a cause and effect link, its authors recommend continuing investigations.
Pollution increases the risk of cancer. Numerous studies have demonstrated this. New research confirms a link between chemicals and cancer risk. In Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiologyscientists find that women with cancer have higher levels of certain endocrine disruptors.
Cancer: what are PFAS?
These are chemical compounds that can interfere with the hormonal system. They are widely distributed in the environment. PFAS, for per and polyfluoroalkyls, have contaminated water and food but they are also present in certain materials including kitchen utensils and clothing. “They are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because they resist degradation and therefore last for decades in the environment, specify the authors of this study. PFAS also remain in human organisms for several months or even years.”
PFAS: a link with cancer risk
This recent work was carried out by researchers at UC San Francisco, the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan. They used blood and urine samples from more than 10,000 people to look at exposure to pollutants, phenols and PFAS, and then to identify cancer diagnoses. “These results highlight the need to consider PFAS and phenols as environmental risk factors for cancer risk in women“, concludes Max Aung, lead author of the study. The data obtained show that women most exposed to PFDE, a type of PFAS, were twice as likely to have been previously diagnosed with melanoma. For two others types of PFAS, the finding was the same. The study also demonstrated a link between PFNA, another type of PFAS, and a previous diagnosis of uterine cancer.”Women with greater exposure to phenols, such as BPA (used in plastics) and 2,5-dichlorophenol (a chemical used in dyes and found as a byproduct in wastewater treatment), had a higher risk. high rate of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer”, note the authors. A correlation with breast cancer has also been observed.
Cancer and PFAS: future investigations are needed
“While this does not prove that exposure to chemicals such as PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) and phenols (including BPA) led to these cancer diagnoses, it is a strong signal indicating that they could play a role and should be studied further“, they estimate. They are already putting forward hypotheses to explain their results. “These PFAS chemicals appear to disrupt hormonal function in women, providing a potential mechanism that would increase the risk of hormone-related cancers in women.“, supposes Amber Cathey, co-author of the study.
