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SATURDAY, Sept. 15, 2018 – According to researchers, widely used household and industrial chemicals could harm the kidneys.
These chemicals, called perfluoroalkyl compounds or PFAS, are not biodegradable. People are exposed to it by contaminated soil, food, water and air.
"The kidneys are very sensitive organs, especially with regard to the environmental toxins that can enter our bloodstream," said study author Dr. John Stanifer of the US. Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
"Given that so many people are exposed to these PFAS chemicals and newer PFAS agents increasingly produced such as GenX, it's critical to understand if these chemicals can contribute to kidney disease," Stanifer said.
By analyzing 74 PFAS studies, researchers found that chemicals were associated with kidney failure and other kidney problems. They said that it was particularly worrying that children are more exposed to these chemicals than adults.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that PFAS is found in food packaging; stain and water repellent fabrics; nonstick cookware; polishes, waxes, paints and cleaning preparations; and fire-fighting foams. In fish, animals and humans, PBAS can accumulate and persist over time.
The study is published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
"By researching all known published studies on the subject, we concluded that these chemicals could cause kidney damage in several ways," Stanifer said in a press release.
"In addition, we discovered that there had already been numerous reports suggesting that these chemicals are associated with adverse consequences for the kidneys," he added.
More information
The US Environmental Protection Agency has more on the PFAS.
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