Read the full article by Corrie Pikul (Brown University)
“PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called forever chemicals because of their long-lasting presence in humans and the environment, are commonly found in consumer and industrial products. When Brown University researchers examined PFAS levels in the blood serum of United States military veterans, they found that younger veterans had higher PFAS concentrations and a higher prevalence of elevated PFAS compared with civilians of similar ages.
Because PFAS are associated with a range of health effects, including kidney and testicular cancers, liver and cardiovascular disease and thyroid dysfunction, the researchers said the findings can be helpful in guiding healthcare decisions for veterans.
‘From a public health perspective, the critical thing about this work is that it comes with a recommendation,’ said lead study author Christian Hoover, a pre-doctoral fellow in epidemiology at Brown’s School of Public Health. ‘If you’re a male veteran between the ages of 20 and 39, it would be advisable to speak to a physician about getting tested for PFAS levels. It’s also a good idea for people in this category to have a conversation about the health conditions associated with elevated PFAS levels, to see if screening for those conditions makes sense.’
The findings were published in Environmental Health Perspectives.”…