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Two “forever chemicals” have been linked to a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study.
Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a group of synthetic chemicals that break down extremely slowly and can accumulate in the environment and in the human body.
PFAS have been used in nonstick cookware, upholstery and clothing, as well as some food packaging and personal care items.
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The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that women with higher blood levels of two types of PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — were more likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) breast cancer.
ER-negative breast cancers tend to be “more aggressive” and have poorer outcomes than breast cancers that respond to estrogen, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Two “forever chemicals” have been linked to a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to a National Institutes of Health study. (iStock)
The data comes from a large US research project called the Sister Study, which studied environmental and genetic factors linked to breast cancer. All participants had a sister diagnosed with breast cancer at the time of enrollment, but did not have breast cancer themselves.
Researchers measured 17 PFASs in blood samples collected before diagnosis from 1,609 women who later developed breast cancer and a comparison sample of 2,269 women, then examined links between PFAS levels and breast cancer risk by tumor type.
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The group with the highest exposure to PFOA had a 67% higher rate of ER-negative breast cancer. The rate was 93% higher in the highest PFOS group than in the lowest group. These numbers represent relative differences between groups, not an individual woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.
“This study…provides evidence that two PFASs are linked to a higher risk of ER-negative breast cancer.”
Researchers found no clear association between PFOA or PFOS and breast cancer in general.
“This study, along with meta-analysis of previous studies, provides evidence that two PFASs are linked to a higher risk of ER-negative breast cancer,” study leader Alexandra White, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, told Fox News Digital.
Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a group of man-made synthetic chemicals that break down extremely slowly and can accumulate in the environment and in the human body. (iStock)
Because this study focused primarily on older PFAS chemicals that have been largely phased out, the researcher said experts know “very little” about the PFAS that are replacing them, which could be a limitation.
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“They tend to be shorter-chain compounds and may be less persistent in our bodies and the environment, but we know little about how they may influence health outcomes, such as breast cancer,” she said.
The findings show an association, not proof of causation, between lifelong exposure to chemicals and breast cancer risk, as the authors noted that more research is needed.
According to HHS, ER-negative breast cancers tend to be more aggressive and have poorer outcomes than breast cancers that respond to estrogen hormones. (iStock)
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said “women deserve clear answers about how chemicals in their environment can affect their health,” calling for further investigation.
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“Under the leadership of President Trump, we will investigate the evidence, confront environmental health risks, and give women the information they need to protect their health,” he said.
Medical oncologist Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a New York-based breast and gynecologic cancer specialist who worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering for more than 25 years, also acknowledged that permanent chemicals can increase cancer risk.
Few risk factors, beyond genetic predispositions, are known for ER-negative breast cancer, one doctor said. (iStock)
“Often, once you’ve been exposed to them, they build up in your body and wreak havoc, and can even increase the risk of cancerous cell transformation,” she told Fox News Digital. “What was interesting about this study is that the link was only found in ER-negative breast cancers, which are a known aggressive cancer subtype.”
Few risk factors, beyond genetic predispositions, are known for ER-negative breast cancer, Troso-Sandoval noted, adding that “the study did not show that it increased the risk of all breast cancers in general.”
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She suggested that PFAS could damage DNA or interfere with the body’s ability to repair that damage or destroy cancer cells.
Even if patients with ER-negative breast cancer had higher levels of these compounds in their bodies, that doesn’t prove that the chemicals caused their cancers, according to Troso-Sandoval.
Reduce exposure to PFAS
First author Che-Jung Chang, Ph.D., a former NIH researcher and current DLH researcher, noted that although PFAS are “persistent” in the environment and in the human body, exposure is “potentially modifiable.”
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“People can take steps to reduce their exposure, and these findings could open new avenues for prevention,” she said.
A doctor recommended considering cooking with stainless steel pots and pans. (iStock)
Troso-Sandoval recommends looking at everyday sources of exposure to PFAS and other potentially harmful chemicals, including the following:
- Drinking water
- Cookware and utensils
- Cosmetic and personal care products
His concerns about black plastic utensils include other chemical contaminants, including flame retardants.
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“Try to look at products that you use very frequently, and those are the first to swap,” she advised. “Maybe consider cooking with stainless steel pots and pans…I recommend not reheating any foods in plastic containers, because when you heat these plastics, they tend to leach more compounds into our food.”
She recommends examining cosmetics and personal care products that may contain some of these compounds.
Gn Health
