Women with higher blood levels are supposedly “endless chemicals” (perfluorinated substances, PFAS) 40% less likely to get pregnantAccording to the first known study of the effect of PFAS on female fertility.
PFAS (or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been found in almost everyone tested for them, and youl 99% of US residents are contaminated with these compounds. The research was done in Singapore, where pollution levels are lower, but the scientists still found a strong correlation with decreased fertility, reports Guardian.
PFAS is a group of water and oil resistant chemicals and They are found in a wide range of products, from non-stick cookware and cooking utensils to clothing and furniture. They are often referred to as eternal chemicals because they decompose very slowly in the environment and are commonly found in water and soil. Scientists associate these substances with harm to health, including cancer and diseases of the liver, kidneys and thyroid.
Some PFASs have been banned so far, but the industry is rapidly replacing them with similar ones, and in fact, more than 12,000 chemicals of this class have been produced in recent years. The scientists who conducted the research wanted the entire batch of chemicals to be regulated.
take precautions
“Our study strongly demonstrates that Women who want to become pregnant should be aware of the harmful effects of PFAS and take precautions to avoid exposure to chemicals in this class.Nathan Cohen, lead author of the study at the Icahn de la Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said one in six people worldwide are affected by infertility, according to a report from the World Health Organization on Monday.
Damaskini Valvi, Assistant Professor at Icahn Mount Sinai, said: “We are currently facing a global problem of PFAS contamination. Stopping PFAS production in the first place is the only way we can help avoid exposure altogether.
“In the meantime, there are some things we can do on a personal level to reduce our own exposure to some degree,” and he gave as examples: using special water filters and avoiding products containing PFAS.
Research published in the journal Total Environmental ScienceIt included more than 1,000 women of childbearing age trying to get pregnant in Singapore.
Up to 40% less chance of getting pregnant
The researchers found a range of PFAS levels in the women’s blood and evaluated the effects of the chemicals each trimester between the lowest and highest exposure levels. Women with PFAS mix levels one-fourth above average were 40% less likely to get pregnant within one year.. These women also had a 34% lower chance of having a live baby at that time.
The effect of PFAS levels on fertility was greater when considered in combination. more than they are just calculated one by one. “This makes sense because multiple chemicals can act together and affect our health at a much greater level than a single chemical,” said Valvi.
This type of study is not conclusive on how PFAS affects fertility, but previous studies have already shown that chemical compounds affect hormones and egg production and function in addition to being linked to PCOS. “We have really strong evidence from the lab, which shows that PFAS can affect fertility in the female reproductive systemValve said.
Reference work: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723008835?via%3Dihub
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