Exposure To “Forever Chemicals” Has Been Linked To Increased Cancer Risk In Women
According to new research supported by the US government, women exposed to numerous commonly used chemicals appear to have an elevated risk of developing ovarian and other specific types of cancer, including a doubling of the risk for melanoma. Using data gathered by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a group of academic researchers discovered proof that women diagnosed with some “hormonally driven” cancers had exposures to specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used in countless household and industrial products, including stain- and heat-resistant items. They discovered comparable associations between high exposures to phenols, which are frequently found in food packaging, colours, and personal care products, and cancer diagnoses in women. PFAS have earned the moniker “forever chemicals” because of how long they persist in the environment. There were no similar connections between the pollutants and cancer diagnoses in men, according ...