November 13, 2023 Puzzle Piece
PFAS and Thyroid Dysfunction Will Be Discussed at Homecoming 2024, Jan 18-21
This article contains excerpts from a Dr Mercola Article.
Researchers looked into associations between PFAS levels and thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) are known as “forever
chemicals” because they don’t break down easily in the environment and
bioaccumulate in people and wildlife. In the human body, PFAS have half-lives of two to five years.
Exposure to PFAS was significantly associated with thyroid
cancer; a 56% increased rate of diagnosis occurred per doubling of
linear PFOS intensity.
PFAS may lead to cancer by causing changes in epigenetics,
immunosuppression, oxidative stress, inflammation or via hormone and
metabolomic pathways.
Thyroid cancer is on the rise, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
in the environment may be a key reason why. From 1974 to 2013,
incidence of thyroid cancer in the U.S. rose by 3.6% per year.
“Evidence is growing to support a true rise in thyroid cancer
incidence,” scientists with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
and colleagues explained. Aside from risk factors such as obesity and
exposure to ionizing radiation, “exposure to endocrine disrupting
chemicals (EDCs) has been identified as a potential risk factor
warranting investigation.”
PFAS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are categorized as possibly
carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer, while exposure to both PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate)
is linked to thyroid hormone disruption, including hypothyroidism.
For the study, researchers looked into associations between plasma PFAS
levels and thyroid cancer diagnosis. Using data from 88 patients with
thyroid cancer and 88 matched controls without thyroid cancer, the team
measured levels of eight PFAS, finding a significant association.
“There was a 56% increased rate of thyroid cancer diagnosis per doubling
of linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (n-PFOS) intensity,” according
to the study. Another analysis was conducted on a subgroup of 31
patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer a year or more after
enrolling in the study.”
This analysis also found an association between exposure to PFOS and
thyroid cancer risk, as well as exposure to several other PFAS,
including branched perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorononanoic acid,
perfluorooctylphosphonic acid and linear perfluorohexanesulfonic
acid. Study author Lauren Petrick, Ph.D., associate professor of
environmental medicine and public health at Icahn Mount Sinai, said in a
news release:
“The results of this study provide further confirmation for the PFAS
health crisis and underline the need to reduce, and hopefully one day
eliminate, PFAS exposure. Today, it’s nearly impossible to avoid PFAS in
our daily activities. We hope these findings bring awareness of the
severity of these forever chemicals.
PFAS may lead to cancer by causing changes in epigenetics,
immunosuppression, oxidative stress, inflammation or via hormone and
metabolomic pathways. An accumulation of epigenetic events induced by
PFAS exposure can “synergistically amplify tumorigenicity and cancer
progression,” the team explained, adding that immune system suppression
and chronic inflammation also likely play a role:
“PFOS and PFOA have been found to be immunotoxic in epidemiological
and animal studies. Suppression of the immune system can affect the
body’s response to foreign antigens, including those on tumor cells.
Chronic inflammation, which can drive cancer development, has been
linked with PFOS exposures … Finally, PFOS activates peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptors, which contributed to development and
regulation of thyroid cancers.”
In addition to interfering with hormone systems, PFAS may mimic fatty acids in the body, leading to additional health effects.
While production of PFOA ended in 2015, DuPont and other companies
substituted similar chemicals in the production of nonstick cookware and
other products. But even exposure to new generation PFAS is linked to
thyroid disruption. Part of what makes PFAS so dangerous is its
persistence in the environment — and how widespread it is.
EWG compiled a map that shows the location of 41,828 industrial and
municipal sites in the U.S. known to, or suspected of, using, or
releasing PFAS. Among them are landfills and wastewater treatment
plants, airports, paper mills, car washes and areas where firefighting
foam has been used.
Food and water are major sources of exposure. In one study, leafy greens
grown within 10 miles of a PFAS plant contained very high amounts, but
even chocolate cake was contaminated. In addition to nonstick cookware,
you’ll find PFAS in food packaging, carpets, dental floss, and outdoor
wear.
PFAS on farmland is another major issue, one that’s been called a
“slow-motion disaster.” The source of the contamination on many
agricultural lands is biosolids — toxic human waste sludge — that’s
marketed as an affordable fertilizer.
Water is also heavily tainted, which is why even eating one freshwater
fish a year could be dangerous. Research conducted by EWG scientists
revealed that consuming a single serving of freshwater fish annually
equates to a month of drinking water contaminated with PFOS at a
concentration of 48 parts per trillion (ppt).
Given that people in many vulnerable U.S. communities still depend on
freshwater fish as a key part of their diets, public health could be at
risk. Meanwhile, more than 200 million Americans may be drinking water
containing PFAS at a concentration of 1 ppt or higher. EWG has endorsed
making 1 ppt the standard upper safe level for PFAS in drinking water.
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Even contact lenses may be exposing you to these thyroid-damaging
chemicals. Mamavation, in partnership with Environmental Health News,
has been investigating PFAS in everyday products such as clothes, food
and makeup. They sent 18 different contact lens brands to a laboratory
certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to test for
organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS.
All the contact lenses tested positive for fluorine, at levels ranging
from 105 to 20,700 parts per million (ppm). While 44% of the contact
lenses tested contained fluorine at a level over 4,000 ppm, 22%
contained more than 18,000 ppm.
Your thyroid is at risk not only from PFAS but also from multiple other
EDCs circulating in the environment. Among them are flame retardant
chemicals, which are widely used in upholstered furniture, foam baby
products, foam carpet padding and more. What’s more, the chemicals
collect in household dust.
How to Reduce Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals
EDCs are all around us, but you can reduce your exposure by making
informed decisions about your food, water, and personal care products.
You’ll want to filter your drinking water to avoid this common route of
exposure. Also avoid products that are stain-resistant, waterproof, or
nonstick, as most contain PFAS.
Regarding contact lenses, you can avoid PFAS exposure by using glasses
instead. While foods grown with PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge are not
labeled as such, your best bet for avoiding them is to support
sustainable agriculture movements in your area.
Minimizing exposure is most important. Secondarily OHS has cleansing protocols/products available, along with Opti-Enviro Detox, Opti-Metals Detox, Opti-Iodine, and Opti-Thyroid. Testing and treating will be demonstrated at Homecoming 2024.
Homecoming is coming January 18-21, 2022. Please Register Today if you have not! We have many new innovations to share.
You will get to hear from many different speakers who are all well
renowned in their specific areas of study. You’ll be taught many
different topics that will help you become a master at navigating the
bio-terrain, detoxification, regeneration, and restoration.
Click Here To Download the 2024 Brimhall Homecoming Seminar Itinerary.
Yours in Health and Wellness,
John W Brimhall, DC, BA, BS, FIAMA, DIBAK, Formulator, Patent Holder
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