XPost: talk.politics.guns, wi.general, alt.checkmate   
   XPost: alt.global-warming   
   From: ban_fracking@nytimes.com   
      
   MADISON – Women who have high levels of "forever chemicals" in   
   their bodies may be at a higher risk for developing blood   
   pressure issues later in life, according to a new study that   
   examined a group of women over the course of 18 years.   
      
   The study, conducted by researchers at the University of   
   Michigan, found that PFAS exposure may be an "underappreciated   
   risk factor" for cardiovascular disease, one researcher said.   
      
   The study found that women with higher levels of PFAS in their   
   bodies had a 71% increase in their risk for high blood pressure,   
   the first study of its kind to examine possible links between   
   the compounds that portion of women's health, said researcher   
   Sung Kyun.   
      
   The study included more than 1,000 women who were between the   
   ages of 42 and 52 between November 1995 and October 1997.   
   Officially launched in 1999, the study followed the women   
   through 2017, with annual check-ins. Though the study wasn't   
   originally launched with PFAS in mind, Kyun said he had the   
   opportunity to incorporate the compounds.   
      
   During the course of the evaluation, 470 women developed high   
   blood pressure, and researchers were able to connect those high   
   levels with a series of different compounds within the "forever   
   chemical" family, including PFOA, one of the most well-   
   researched and well-known.   
      
   The study focused on women in the middle age range because of   
   the changes that typically happen to their bodies.   
      
   "This critical life stage is very important, but scientific   
   research is lacking during that stage," he said. "That's why we   
   examined this population."   
      
   Though the study looked at only women, it doesn't mean that men   
   can't be impacted in similar ways, Kyun said. But research has   
   suggested that women may be exposed at higher rates to PFAS.   
      
   "Women are more likely to use consumer products that contain   
   PFAS," he said.   
      
   Kyun said researchers were able to analyze the total amount of   
   PFAS in the women's blood year over year and said there has been   
   a marked reduction in the compounds since 1999 and 2000, when   
   companies began to ramp down use.   
      
   What are PFAS and their impacts to the human body?   
   PFAS are a family of man-made chemicals used for their water-   
   and stain-resistant qualities in a multitude of products people   
   come into contact with, such as clothing and carpet, nonstick   
   cookware and packaging. The family includes 5,000 compounds,   
   which remain both in the environment and human body over time.   
      
   The chemicals have been linked to types of kidney and testicular   
   cancers, lower birth weights, harm to immune and reproductive   
   systems, altered hormone regulation and altered thyroid   
   hormones. The chemicals enter the human body largely through   
   drinking water, but can also be consumed if food comes into   
   contact with PFAS-containing packaging.   
      
   More:Here's what you should know about PFAS, the 'forever   
   contaminant' being identified in more locations across Wisconsin   
      
   “PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they never   
   degrade in the environment and contaminate drinking water, soil,   
   air, food and numerous products we consume or encounter   
   routinely," study author Ning Ding, a post-doctoral fellow in   
   the department of epidemiology at the University of Michigan   
   School of Public Health, said in a news release. "One study   
   estimated that two of the most common ’forever chemicals’ are   
   found in most household drinking water and are consumed by more   
   than two-thirds of Americans."   
      
   How to reduce amount of PFAS you encounter   
   Kyun said that there are steps that consumers can take to reduce   
   the amount of PFAS in their lives, like staying away from   
   nonstick cookware, not buying stain-proof couches or carpets and   
   avoiding waterproof mascara.   
      
   But the best way to reduce the amount of PFAS that the normal   
   American comes into contact would be to put strict regulations   
   in place for the chemicals.   
      
   "At the individual level, it's impossible to avoid exposure," he   
   said. "It's more important that we regulate PFAS through   
   legislation. If we have stricter regulations, everyone can   
   benefit."   
      
   Lawmakers should take into account studies like this one that   
   show the real-world harm PFAS have, Kyun said.   
      
   "It is very important for our policymakers to do something and   
   act on PFAS exposure," he said. "We have a lot of scientific   
   evidence that consistently tells us that reduction in PFAS is   
   really important."   
      
   In addition to policymakers, Kyun said that doctors should take   
   into consideration talking with patients about how PFAS can have   
   certain risk factors if a patient is exposed.   
      
      
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