Exposure to "Forever Chemicals" May Increase Diabetes Risk
Science and Technology Daily — A new study led by Mount Sinai Hospital in the U.S. has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. The relevant findings were published in eBioMedicine, a journal under The Lancet, on July 21.
The research team conducted a nested case-control study using "BioMe," a large electronic health record database that includes health records of over 70,000 patients treated at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York since 2007. The study selected 180 individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and compared them with 180 individuals with no history of diabetes, matched by age, gender, and ancestry.
Analysis of PFAS concentrations in blood samples revealed that higher levels of PFAS exposure were associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Data showed that for each increase in the range of PFAS exposure, the risk of the disease rose by 31%. This association may be due to PFAS interfering with key metabolic pathways in the body, such as amino acid synthesis and drug metabolism, which in turn affects blood sugar regulation.
PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals resistant to heat, oil, water, and stains, widely used in everyday consumer products such as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant furniture, and waterproof clothing. Due to their resistance to degradation, PFAS accumulate in the environment and the human body. A growing body of research indicates that PFAS may also be a significant environmental risk factor for chronic diseases such as obesity and liver disease.
The team calls for greater attention to the potential threat of PFAS exposure to public health and further exploration of the specific mechanisms by which PFAS interfere with human metabolism.