The UK government is launching its first investigation into levels of so-called “forever chemicals” in the British population. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will analyse blood and urine samples to establish baseline exposure to PFAS and other contaminants, including lead, arsenic, bisphenols, phthalates and flame retardants. Initial results are expected next year.
Investigating PFAS exposure
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were widely used from the 1940s and 1950s because they resist water, oil and heat. They are found in thousands of products, including cookware, clothing and firefighting foam.
These substances are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not readily break down in the environment. Concerns about their potential effects on human health have increased in recent years.
The report said current evidence suggests that the potential health effects associated with PFAS are likely to be limited. However, the strongest associations identified in larger population groups were higher cholesterol levels and lower birth weight.
Two PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, are already banned in the UK. Long-term exposure to these substances can increase cancer risk, according to the World Health Organization.
PFAS research remains an emerging field, with more than 15,000 studies examining the chemicals and their possible effects.
Building a baseline for chemical exposure
UKHSA will use blood and urine samples collected through the existing Health Survey for England. The work will establish baseline levels of PFAS, lead, arsenic, bisphenols, phthalates and flame retardants in the population.
Speaking exclusively to Inside Health on BBC Radio 4, Dr Edward Wynne-Evans, UKHSA’s director of radiation, chemicals, climate and environmental hazards, said there was a gap in understanding “what different levels of exposure mean for an individual’s long-term health”.
He said the study would help “build an evidence base to better understand what’s going on”.
Concerns near contaminated sites
People living near two sites with known toxic PFAS contamination have raised concerns and chosen to undergo individual blood tests.
In September, blood tests found “extremely high concentrations” of PFOA in dozens of people living near a major chemical factory. PFOA is one of the PFAS associated with cancer risk.
However, the UK government is not recommending that people have regular PFAS blood tests because there is no “established clinical intervention” for elevated PFAS levels, Wynne-Evans said.
“If we conduct a test where we cannot recommend an action to follow, we generally do not recommend the test,” he said.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk