HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)- PFAS are chemicals in plenty of everyday products. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is encouraging physicians and healthcare providers to discuss blood testing for PFAS exposure with their patients.
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, can be found in a myriad of things like water-resistant fabric, personal care products, food packaging, non-stick cookware, and drinking water.
“Only in the last few years have people started to investigate these, and the more they investigate them, the more we seem to find time,” said Michael Myer, assistant professor of Earth System Science at Harrisburg University.
“If you test somebody, it is very likely that somebody is going to test positive for PFAS chemical,” said Dr. Mike Abesamis, UPMC medical toxicologist.
According to the CDC, potential health effects associated with PFAS exposure include higher cholesterol, lower birth weight, kidney and testicular cancer, and elevated liver enzymes. However, health experts say pinning that on just PFAS is difficult to do.
“All of these are factors that have many things that contribute to them, so I don’t think that a single blood test without a conversation with your doctor is the way to go,” said Dr. Rebecca Bascom, professor of medicine and public health sciences at Penn State Health.
There may be some people at higher risk, most of the time caused by occupational exposure.
“Workers who work in chemical plants that use these substances, fire retardants, and fire extinguishers are well-known to have these substances in them and have significant amounts of exposure,” said Dr. Abesamis.
The blood test can detect PFAS levels, but there are currently no approved medical treatments available to reduce PFAS in the body.
“Being educated on what is likely to have those kinds of chemicals and likely to have those things is going to be the one thing I’m going to tell you that has to happen,” said Dr. Abesamis.
The blood tests may not be widely available, and the tests could be expensive or not covered by insurance.
