According to a study, “forever chemicals” present in shampoo, food wrappers, and tap water could be the cause of the rise in illnesses among young people. The microbiome, the delicate protective balance of microorganisms in the stomach, is harmed by these harmful compounds, according to recent studies.
The gut bacteria that prevent inflammation, which has been connected to diseases like colon cancer, were shown to be less prevalent in those with greater amounts of these chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Years later, the researchers assessed the patients’ kidney function in addition to looking at their microbiome. Over a four-year period, they discovered that the everlasting chemicals might have been to blame for a decline in kidney function of up to 50%.
Since the 1940s, PFAS—known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t decompose in our bodies or the environment—have been utilized in manufacturing to create products that are resistant to water, oil, and stains. However, there has been an increasing amount of studies connecting the chemicals to issues with the immune system, pregnancy troubles, and cancers of the kidneys and testicles.
With the number of people under 55 receiving a colon cancer diagnosis virtually doubling over the previous 25 years, experts elsewhere are looking at the gut as one of the possible causes of the rise in the disease’s incidence in young people.
A 2024 study revealed that over 70 million Americans might reside in homes where the drinking water is tainted with PFAS. The EPA passed legislation this year mandating that public drinking water systems begin PFAS testing and water limitation by 2025.
According to the CDC, in addition to water, consuming food produced close to PFAS manufacturers, consuming seafood that has been in PFAS-contaminated water, or inhaling polluted dust or soil can expose a person to persistent chemicals. According to the EPA, prolonged exposure to PFAS may cause developmental delays in children, reduced fertility in women, disturbance of the body’s hormone balance, and an increased risk of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer.
One of the most often acknowledged adverse effects of PFAS exposure is kidney impairment, and researchers like Professor Jesse Goodrich who is attempting to provide an explanation for this, since his research was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. “It’s a really important question because these metabolic diseases increase the risk of developing diabetic or chronic kidney diseases, which is one of the fastest-growing causes of mortality in the US,” Professor Goodrich of the University of Southern California told The Guardian.
78 residents of the USC area, with an average age of 20, who were free of diseases like obesity, diabetes, or illnesses that could already affect their digestive systems were included in his study. In order to assess their baseline gut health and PFAS levels, they collected blood and stool samples in 2014. Each individual was assigned a PFAS burden score, which is a figure created to calculate exposure to chemical combinations.
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