Recently, a joint study between the United States and Singapore found that exposure to too many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in daily life will reduce the chances of a woman’s pregnancy by 30 to 40 percent. The researchers emphasized that women planning on becoming pregnant should consider the hazards of PFAS and avoid exposure.
PFAS is a general term covering tens of thousands of chemical substances. They have the properties of being not sticky, oil-proof, and waterproof. PFAS do not decompose easily in the natural environment, so they are considered “forever chemicals.” They are widely used in cosmetics, nonstick pans, stain-resistant coatings on interior decor, paints, food packaging, and firefighting foam. More and more scientific research shows that PFAS may be absorbed through the skin or tear ducts and harm human health.
On May 15, Science of the Total Environment published the results of the joint study between the U.S. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Harvard University, and the National University of Singapore. Research suggests that blood containing higher levels of PFAS indicates reduced women’s fertility.
The researchers collected PFAS in the blood samples of 1,032 women of childbearing age (18 to 45 years old) in Singapore and followed them up for one year. The result showed that the higher the level of PFAS in the blood, the lower the chance of pregnancy. Women whose blood contained a variety of PFAS mixtures had their chances of pregnancy within one year reduced by 30 to 40 percent. Among them, PFDA (perfluorodecanoic acid) has the greatest impact. Just this chemical alone was shown to affect pregnancy outcomes.
Dr. Damaschini Valvi, associate professor in environmental medicine and public health at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, pointed out that PFAS have been detected in the umbilical cord blood, placenta, and breast milk. Therefore, preventing exposure to PFAS is critical to protecting the health of both the mother and the child.
Numerous studies have found that nearly every American has PFAS in their blood. Dr. Valvi appealed for the importance of policies banning toxic chemicals in everyday products.
Over 200 Cosmetics Contain PFAS
The newer study adds weight to existing studies. University of Notre Dame researchers tested 231 cosmetic products for PFAS in eight categories. These products were all selected from major brands in the United States and Canada. Products included concealer, foundation, eye and brow products, and lipsticks. The results found that over half of the products tested positive for PFAS. The analysis showed that 56 percent of foundation and eye products, 48 percent of lipsticks, and 47 percent of mascaras contained high concentrations of PFAS. Among them, 82 percent of waterproof mascara and 62 percent of non-fading lipstick had the highest PFAS content.
The study was published in the Environmental Science and Technology Letters in June 2021.
Heather Whitehead, author of the research paper, said liquid lipsticks and waterproof mascaras, often advertised as “long-wearing” and “waterproof,” had very high levels of total PFAS. It is worth noting that in the further testing of 29 samples, four to 13 specific PFAS components were identified in each. However, only one product listed PFAS ingredients on its label. This indicates that North American consumers are unknowingly exposed to PFAS in cosmetics.
The study’s lead researcher, Graham Peaslee, a professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame, said the findings are particularly worrying when one considers the scale of the multibillion-dollar industry that provides these products to millions of consumers every day. These products are applied around the eyes and the mouth and may therefore be absorbed through the skin or tear ducts or simply be ingested. PFAS are persistent chemicals that, upon entering the bloodstream, will stay there and accumulate. The manufacture and disposal of these products also present additional risks of environmental contamination, potentially affecting many more people.
Regrettably, there is currently no way to reduce PFAS levels in the blood. Dr. Ryoichi Nakahara from the University of Tokyo told The Epoch Times that there is currently no good way to decompose PFAS. As PFAS are so widely used, they are difficult for the public to avoid. The only option is to minimize the use of PFAS-containing products. The government issuing policy that would remove PFAS from daily products would be the most efficient approach.
On Feb. 7, five EU countries, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, proposed to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) banning 10,000 PFAS. The UK (pdf) and the United States also plan to gradually adopt control measures.