‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Increased Mortality From Heart Disease, Kidney and Testicular Cancer

A new study by Italian researchers is the first to formally demonstrate the link between…

Children's Health Defense

Exposure to PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” is associated with an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, kidney cancer and testicular cancer, according to a new Italian study.

The longitudinal study, published April 16 in Environmental Health, is the first to formally demonstrate the link between perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and cardiovascular mortality in the world’s largest exposed population, according to the authors.

The findings add to the growing body of evidence on the health risks associated with PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products and industrial applications.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week announced it finalized a rule designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law. And on April 10, the agency announced the first enforceable legal limits for PFAS in drinking water.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week published an update on testing results for PFAS in food, indicating potential danger with the chemicals accumulating in fish. Additionally, it disclosed a revised testing method that can identify nearly twice as many PFAS chemicals in food.

The study and announcements come amid recent news exposing the presence of PFAS in Band-Aids, plastic food containers, firefighter gear and artificial turf, raising concerns about the ubiquity of these substances and their effect on human health…