The Norwegian Institute of Public Health wants regular testing of PFAS levels in Norwegians' blood
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) believes Norwegians should undergo regular testing to monitor levels of the environmental toxin PFAS. NIPH is currently conducting the first large-scale study of PFAS levels in the Norwegian population.
The harmful environmental toxins PFAS are found in many everyday products. Fluorinated compounds are generally linked to several negative health effects, according to the NIPH.
Last year, NIPH analysed blood and urine samples from 669 Norwegian children and found that nearly one in three exceeded the safe threshold for PFAS. Now, adults will also be examined. European research and dietary analyses suggest that more than half of Norwegians are exposed to excessive amounts of these fluorinated sunstances, writes Klassekampen (link in Norwegian).
“It’s concerning that such a large proportion exceeds the threshold for what is considered safe. This raises the risk of negative health impacts at the population level,” says Line Småstuen Haug, senior researcher and project leader for the Norwegian Environmental Biobank.
PFAS may influence puberty
Earlier this year, sciencenorway.no wrote about a study that found that girls with high levels of PFAS in their bodies began menstruation earlier.
A new Norwegian study reveals a different connection: Boys with high levels of PFAS in their blood experienced different pubertal development than others.
What is PFAS?
PFAS refers to over 10,000 fluorinated compounds found in a wide range of products, including guitar strings, dental floss, and makeup. These chemicals leak into nature and end up in animals and humans, primarily through food and drink. In an earlier study, Line Småstuen Haug found PFAS in all of the roughly 30 food items she tested.
Haug stresses the importance of regular monitoring of environmental toxins in the population. The EU is currently working on implementing mandatory monitoring of PFAS in humans.
This autumn, the EU is preparing a proposal to ban all PFAS compounds, a move that Norway supports. Haug highlights the need for a total ban, as all fluorinated compounds can potentially break down into harmful variants.
———
Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no
Related content:
Subscribe to our newsletter
The latest news from Science Norway, sent twice a week and completely free.
