A new paper provides evidence of how PFAS, often called โforever chemicals,โ correspond to epigenetic changes that can lead to cancers, neurological disorders and autoimmune conditions. Researchers at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health found that certain kinds of long-lasting chemicals firefighters are exposed to may affect the activity of genes linked to cancer and other diseases. The findings appear in the journal Environmental Research.
The study is among the first to connect common industrial chemicals called PFAS โ per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances โ to changes in microRNAs, or miRNAs, which are molecules that act as guardrails to help control gene expression.
PFAS are found in a wide range of products, including upholstery, insulation, electronics, cleaning products, fabrics, non-stick cookware โ and firefighting foam and gear. Firefighters can be at higher risk for certain cancers, and exposure to toxic chemicals may be one reason why.
โFirefighters tend to have higher PFAS levels due to their occupational exposures,โ said first author Melissa Furlong, PhD, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at the Zuckerman College of Public Health and a member of both the University of Arizona Cancer Center and the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research. โGene activity can be affected by changes in the environment. We wanted to see the imprint of PFAS exposure on miRNAs and evaluate which ones might be associated with diseases.โ
The scientists analyzed blood samples from 303 firefighters from six locations across the U.S. to measure levels of nine PFAS and corresponding miRNA activity. Changes in miRNAs can play roles in a range of different diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders.
They found that blood levels of certain PFAS in this group of firefighters were associated with changes in specific miRNA activity. The latter were connected to disease pathways for several cancers, neurological disorders and autoimmune conditions.
