A study co-led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—may significantly increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adolescents.
A study co-led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—may significantly increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adolescents. MASLD affects about 10% of children and up to 40% of children with obesity and can increase long-term risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver cancer.
The findings were published in Environmental Research and is a collaboration with the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation and Prevention Center.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in nonstick cookware, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, food packaging and some cleaning products. They persist in the environment and accumulate in the body over time. More than 99% of people in the U.S. have measurable PFAS in their blood, and at least one PFAS is present in roughly half of U.S. drinking water supplies.
Read more at: University of Hawaii
Photo Credit: Pexels via Pixabay
