A new study from University of Arizona researchers has found there could be a tie between exposure to PFAS and chronic health conditions in firefighters.
The researchers wanted to study how PFAS affects micro-RNA, which helps control how parts of your DNA are expressed. Disruptions to micro-RNA are linked to health conditions like cancer and autoimmune disorders.
The study found that certain levels of PFAS in the group of firefighters were associated with some changes to micro-RNA linked to those health problems.
Melissa Furlong is a professor with UA and the study's author. She says firefighters are often exposed to the chemicals through their equipment.
“We're concerned that PFAS seems to have these fairly broad biological effects in humans. And you know this is, these are epigenetic signatures in people who don't have these diseases," Furlong said.
The study was published in the journal Environmental Research.
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