South Carolina researchers detected toxic PFAS in the ovaries of 36 women at a fertility clinic. Did those women have a right to know their own chemical exposure?
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Advocates at the Environmental Working Group want more studies of how exposure to so-called “forever chemicals” may affect COVID-19 severity and vaccine efficacy. They’re concerned about communities with high levels of PFAS, like Long Island.
PFAS are chemicals used in everything from take-out containers to firefighting foam.
Dr. Linda Birnbaum is a toxicologist and former director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. She said studies have shown PFAS blood levels of 22.5 nanograms per milliliter can weaken the immune system.
“And we know that suppression of the immune system can be associated with a decreased ability to mount a therapeutic response to vaccination. That doesn’t mean you won’t get any response to vaccination you may just not get as much,” Birnbaum said.
Frank Eltman / AP
Advocates at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) want more studies that explore how PFAS exposure may affect COVID-19 severity and vaccine efficacy. Toxicoligists say they are concerned about communities with high traces of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water, because residents may get sicker with Coronavirus and may respond less to the COVID-19 vaccine.
PFAS are chemicals used in everything from take-out containers to firefighting foam. High levels of the chemicals have been found in drinking water on Long Island.
Dr. Jaime Dewitt, who researches PFAS at East Carolina University, said an early study of COVID-19 patients in Denmark could be a model for further PFAS research in the U.S.