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Asian Americans have much higher ‘forever chemicals’ levels than other groups, study finds

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Summary

A new study has found that Asian Americans likely have much higher levels of "forever chemicals" in their blood than other US races and ethnicities. The research found that the median level of PFAS was 88% higher for Asian Americans than non-Hispanic whites, which standard methods miss. It is unclear why Asian Americans have higher levels in their blood, but it may be due to their diets, immigration history, or other factors. Lower income Asian Americans were found to have higher median PFAS levels in their blood than wealthier counterparts, but no statistical disparity was found between non-Hispanic Black and white people. The findings show that a more rigorous approach in research may be able to uncover disparities in populations.

Q&As

What is PFAS and why is it referred to as “forever chemicals”?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of about 15,000 compounds most frequently used to make products water-, stain- and grease-resistant. They are dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down in the environment.

What health problems are associated with PFAS?
PFAS have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease and a range of other serious health problems.

What methods are typically used to measure PFAS exposure in the US?
The standard methods used by the US government and most of the scientific community are typically used to measure PFAS exposure.

Why do Asian Americans have higher levels of PFAS in their blood?
It is unclear why Asian Americans have higher levels in their blood, the study’s lead author said, adding that more research is needed. It is thought that populations with higher levels of seafood in their diets generally have higher levels of PFAS in their blood, and immigration history likely also plays a role.

How can a more rigorous approach to research uncover disparities in PFAS exposure among populations?
The research used a novel method for measuring PFAS exposure which factored sociodemographic, dietary and behavioral characteristics into its algorithm, making it more sensitive to exposure differences among cultures than the standard methods used. This approach can uncover disparities in PFAS exposure among populations.

AI Comments

👍 This study highlights the need for more research to understand why Asian Americans have higher levels of 'forever chemicals' in their blood. The novel methodology used in the study is an efficient way to measure exposure differences among cultures.

👎 This study shows that low-income Asian Americans have higher median PFAS levels in their blood than wealthier counterparts, demonstrating the unfairness of exposure to hazardous chemicals. It is concerning that the standard methods used by the US government and most of the scientific community do not account for these disparities.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about a study that found that Asian Americans have much higher levels of “forever chemicals” in their blood than other US races and ethnicities. The median level of PFAS was 88% higher for Asian Americans than non-Hispanic whites, the research shows. It's unclear why this is the case, but the researchers suggest that immigration history and dietary habits likely play a role.

Friend: Wow, that's really interesting. I hadn't realized that PFAS exposure could vary so much across different racial and ethnic groups.

Me: Yes, it's definitely concerning. It raises questions about whether certain populations are being exposed to higher levels of these chemicals and facing greater health risks as a result. It also highlights the need for more research to understand why this is the case and to ensure that everyone has an equal chance at avoiding the health risks associated with PFAS exposure.

Action items

Educate yourself and your community about the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure.
Advocate for more research into why Asian Americans have higher levels of PFAS in their blood.
Support efforts to reduce PFAS exposure in vulnerable communities, such as by advocating for stricter regulations on the use of PFAS in consumer products.

Technical terms

PFAS: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of about 15,000 compounds most frequently used to make products water-, stain- and grease-resistant.
Item Response Theory: A more sensitive methodology for measuring PFAS exposure, which factors sociodemographic, dietary and behavioral characteristics into its algorithm.
Forever Chemicals: A nickname for PFAS, which do not naturally break down in the environment.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: A US organization that recently implemented recommendations on when people who have been exposed to PFAS should be offered medical testing.