How tiny 'forever chemicals' might hurt kids' vaccine protection
Benchmark dose calculations for PFAS exposure based on two data sets on immunotoxic effects
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The 'safe' level of PFAS may be 10 times lower than Europe says—and the U.S. EPA was right all along.
Most people assume regulatory agencies agree on chemical safety, but here the U.S. EPA’s much stricter limits align with the science, while EFSA’s are way off.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid non-stick cookware, waterproof cosmetics, and stain-resistant fabrics, which often contain PFAS.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The 'safe' level of PFAS may be 10 times lower than Europe says—and the U.S. EPA was right all along.
Most people assume regulatory agencies agree on chemical safety, but here the U.S. EPA’s much stricter limits align with the science, while EFSA’s are way off.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid non-stick cookware, waterproof cosmetics, and stain-resistant fabrics, which often contain PFAS.
Publication
Journal
Environmental Health
Year
2023
Authors
E. Budtz-Jørgensen, P. Grandjean
Related Content
Claims (6)
Some chemicals called PFAS might not be safe at any level, and the EPA says even tiny amounts could be a problem.
PFOA, one of the 'forever chemicals' in non-stick and waterproof products, might weaken how well vaccines work in people — and it seems to be more harmful than other similar chemicals, so we shouldn’t treat them all as equally dangerous.
Fancy math models that bend at different points give better estimates of safe chemical exposure levels from real-world human data than older, simpler models — especially when studying how PFAS chemicals affect the immune system.
A study from the Faroe Islands found that the safe level of PFAS chemicals might be much lower than what Europe currently says is safe — meaning kids might not be protected enough from harm to their immune systems.
When studying the health effects of PFAS chemicals, using grouped data (like averages for groups of people) gives results that are almost as accurate as using detailed individual data — as long as the effect increases steadily with dose.