A recent study unveils alarming findings about women’s cancer risk, indicating significant connections between the disease and exposure to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals
While it doesn’t definitively establish causation, this research signals a potential link between breast, ovary, skin, and uterus cancers and elevated endocrine-disrupting chemicals like PFAS and phenols in patients’ bodies.
Higher PFAS exposure: Women’s Cancer risk
The study highlights a striking pattern among women; those with elevated exposure to long-chained PFAS compound PFDE exhibited double the odds of having previously been diagnosed with melanoma.
Similarly, those with heightened vulnerability to PFNA and PFUA had nearly double the odds of a prior melanoma diagnosis.
The study also pinpoints a connection between PFNA exposure and a previous uterine cancer diagnosis.
Moreover, women with higher phenol exposure, including BPA and 2,5-dichlorophenol, faced increased odds of prior ovarian cancer diagnoses.
Collaborative research uncovers links
Conducted by researchers from UC San Francisco (UCSF), the University of Southern California (USC), and the University of Michigan, the study examined data from over 10,000 individuals as part of a National Institutes of Health-funded project.
They assessed the relationship between phenols, PFAS exposure, and past cancer diagnoses, focusing on potential disparities based on race and ethnicity.
EPA urged to regulate PFAS
PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” have permeated the environment through products like Teflon cookware, waterproof garments, and food packaging.
They persist for extended periods in the background and in people’s bodies.
The study suggests that these chemicals may disrupt hormone function in women, potentially contributing to hormone-related cancers.
Additionally, researchers advocate for the EPA to regulate PFAS as a class of chemicals to curb exposure and protect public health.
Chemical exposures and the risk of cancer in women
In conclusion, the study’s findings shed a troubling light on the complex interplay between chemical exposures and the risk of cancer in women. While it does not definitively establish a causal link, the evidence suggests a strong association between elevated levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals like PFAS and phenols and the occurrence of breast, ovarian, skin, and uterine cancers.
Particularly concerning are the heightened odds of melanoma and uterine cancer among women with increased PFAS exposure and the elevated risk of ovarian cancer in those exposed to phenols.
