Fetuses Likely Have Higher Levels of 'Forever Chemicals' in Blood Than Previously Estimated
New peer-reviewed research from Mount Sinai indicates that fetuses may be exposed to significantly more Pfas, commonly known as "forever chemicals," than earlier assessments suggested. The study, which analyzed 120 umbilical cord blood samples, identified 42 different Pfas compounds, a stark contrast to the limited number typically checked in standard tests.
Expanded Analysis Uncovers Hidden Pfas Compounds
Traditional testing for Pfas in umbilical cord blood often focuses on a small subset of common compounds, such as Pfoa and Pfos. However, this new study employed a "non-targeted analysis" that screens for thousands of Pfas variants. The results revealed a much higher total level of Pfas in the samples, highlighting that babies are exposed to a broader array of these chemicals than previously understood.
Shelley Liu, a co-author of the study and associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, emphasized the vulnerability of fetuses during this exposure period. "It's particularly important to understand because it is a very vulnerable period when fetuses are exposed," Liu stated.
Health Implications and Regulatory Gaps
Pfas are a class of approximately 15,000 compounds used to make products water-, stain-, and grease-resistant. They have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, and kidney disease. Dubbed "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment, they do not break down naturally.
A review of 40 studies found Pfas detected in every one of 30,000 umbilical cord blood samples examined. Elevated Pfas levels in mothers are associated with higher infant mortality, low birth weight, and obesity later in life, while fetal exposure has been connected to cancer, neurological problems, and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Regulatory methods for detecting Pfas have struggled to keep pace with the shift from legacy compounds like Pfoa and Pfos to newer generations. For instance, the US Environmental Protection Agency typically tests water samples for only around 30-40 compounds, despite independent researchers finding thousands. A 2022 Guardian analysis noted that regulators frequently undercount Pfas levels in water.
Study Findings and Future Research
The Mount Sinai study compared umbilical cord blood samples using both traditional and non-targeted analyses. As expected, the more comprehensive testing uncovered more Pfas compounds. While the EPA recently certified a blood test for 53 compounds, the Mount Sinai analysis found 31 additional compounds not included in that test.
The health impact of these findings remains unclear, as the study did not directly assess health problems. However, higher Pfas levels in blood are generally associated with increased health risks. The blood samples were drawn as part of the federal government's Home study, which tracks Pfas exposure and health outcomes over a lifetime, and Mount Sinai researchers plan to investigate the health implications further.
David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group, commented on the study's significance. "This paper is a stark reminder of the importance of health-protective regulations and how lax oversight can result in babies being born pre-polluted with harmful chemicals such as Pfas," he said.
The findings underscore the need for improved regulatory frameworks and more comprehensive testing to better understand and mitigate the risks posed by Pfas exposure during fetal development.
