United States: A new study has found that women exposed to several widely used chemicals face increased odds for ovarian and other types of cancer, including a doubling of the odds for melanoma.
The researchers used data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and found evidence that women diagnosed with some “hormonally driven” cancers had exposures to certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used in thousands of household and industrial products, including stain- and heat-resistant items.
The research team found similar links between women diagnosed with cancer and high exposures to phenols, which are commonly used in food packaging, dyes, and personal care products. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” due to their longevity in the environment.
The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, did not find similar associations between the chemicals and cancer diagnoses in men.
PFAS chemicals, in particular, may disrupt hormone functions specific to women—a potential mechanism for increasing their odds of hormone-related cancers, the researchers determined. Hormonally active cancers are common and hard to cure, making deeper inquiry into potential environmental causes critical, the researchers said.
“People should care about this because we know that there is widespread human exposure to these chemicals, and we have documented data on that,” Mr. Max Aung, assistant professor of environmental health at the USC Kreck School of Medicine and a senior author of the study, commented.
“These chemicals can increase the risk of various different health outcomes, and they can alter your biological pathways. That is important to know so that we can better prevent exposures and mitigate risks,” Mr. Aung added.
In addition to Mr. Aung, the study was conducted by researchers affiliated with the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California, San Francisco; the University of Southern California; and the University of Michigan.
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