Researchers prove cancer risk of eternity chemicals for humans
Published: Friday, Dec 1st 2023, 16:00
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The two perpetuating chemicals Pfos (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) and Pfoa (perfluorooctanoic acid) are carcinogenic or at least probably carcinogenic. This is shown by a new study in the journal "The Lancet Oncology".
The researchers from the Institute for Cancer Research (Circ) of the World Health Organization (WHO), based in Lyon, France, assume that workers who produce these substances are at the highest risk. Overall, however, the risk has decreased in many countries due to the ban on production.
The chemicals are called "eternal" because they do not degrade in the environment. Today, the use of these compounds is largely banned in Switzerland. Despite this ban, the substances are still detectable in the environment, in the food chain and in humans.
A study conducted by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) in October showed that the substances are also found in groundwater. Overall, the measurements revealed the presence of 13 different perennial chemicals in groundwater in Switzerland. The highest concentrations were found in the water samples taken in 2021 for Pfos. The results were based on samples from more than 500 groundwater monitoring sites.
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