A new study, published on February 26 in the journal Frontiers in Aging, suggests that PFAS may be speeding up aging in men in their fifties and early sixties.
“The associations between PFAS exposure and accelerated epigenetic aging were strongest in men aged 50 – 65,” said senior study author Xiangwei Li, a professor of epidemiology at China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
PFAS buildup in men may reduce testosterone, harm sperm quality, and raise the risk of testicular and kidney cancers. Earlier studies suggest women appear to clear some PFAS more quickly through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menstruation, and that the gap in PFAS levels between men and women shrinks after menopause.
PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are everywhere—from the water we drink to the food packaging we use. These chemicals are so persistent that they never break down in the environment, earning them their ominous nickname. What’s even more concerning is that data shows that PFAS are found in the blood of up to 99% of Americans.
With growing concerns over their potential health risks, including cancer and immune system issues, it’s clear that PFAS are a significant threat we can no longer ignore. Click through to learn how these chemicals spread, where they’re lurking, and what’s being done to protect public health.