A new, comprehensive Australian study documents PFAS contamination in the general population on a massive scale. In addition, it looks at the most successful ways to bring these levels down. PFAS are manmade chemicals that make things resistant to heat, stains, grease and water. These durable chemicals have made their way into a lot of common household products. Despite companies phasing out PFAS since the late 1990s, many Australians still carry traces of these chemicals in their bodies.
Professor Miri Forbes from Sydney’s Macquarie University, one of the researchers behind the study, says that the solution lies with drivers. She noted that PFAS are pervasive, yet we have very little information about the health impacts of these lower, more chronic PFAS exposures. “What we do know is that this is the first study to identify ways that we can reduce PFAS,” explained Forbes.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also recently released data for mid-FY23. It indicates that over 85% of the American population had detectable levels of three PFAS in their blood. Universities Australia under Professor Peter Sly, who was involved in the research, warned that these chemicals are everywhere. I’ll be scared every single Australian has PFAS in their body. “It’s not a matter of if they’re high,” he said.
With this in mind, the study was intended to examine the effects of blood and plasma donation on PFAS levels. Investigators focused on the impact among 285 firefighters. It is estimated that donating blood at least once every 12 weeks will result in a 10% decrease of PFAS chemicals. Making six plasma donations yields an impressive 30% cut. The results imply that structured donations might be the most practical approach to addressing high PFAS levels.
Martyn Kirk is a professor of epidemiology at the Australian National University. In particular, he made clear the emotional impact PFAS contamination has on military communities. Inspiration for this type of change came from Wreck Bay, an Aboriginal community on the New South Wales south coast. Residents there are concerned about a potential “cancer cluster” they say is linked to Department of Defence contamination.
Kirk stressed a strong need for longitudinal studies to have a more comprehensive understanding of exposure levels across age demographics and geographic locations. He justified this by saying you stand a far greater statistical probability of detecting the ultimate exposure-disease link. In the community, on the other hand, the levels are frequently ultra-low.
It’s been significant PFAS reduction in Australians since 2000. Kirk was pleased to see that the concentrations of PFAS in Australians’ blood have almost dropped by a factor of ten. This welcome new trend continues to this day. This trend is consistent with the gradual withdrawal of PFAS compounds from use in manufacturing and consumer products.
Forbes cautioned that while there is evidence of decreasing levels, further research is necessary to determine how these reductions impact human health over time. “The long-term effect of decreased PFAS levels on the human body is still unknown,” she said.
During her talk, Professor Sly described creative new ways to study the effects of PFAS exposure. He explained that pooling blood samples from communities enables anonymity and makes measuring levels easier. And of course, pooling samples protects everyone’s identities. In addition, you only have to analyze one sample, not ten or 100,” he added. This approach allows for a broader understanding of PFAS exposure in multiple populations.
The impacts of PFAS contamination are bigger than just the health concerns to an individual. As communities continue to grapple with potential long-term effects, it is crucial for researchers to conduct extensive investigations into both environmental exposure and public health outcomes.
