New Hampshire collected PFAS-laden firefighting foam during a take-back program for fire departments in August. Disposal is through a technology called the PFAS Annihilator that breaks down the powerful chemical bonds. (New Hampshire Bulletin/Courtesy of Revive Environmental)
Over a lifetime, Kentuckians are repeatedly exposed to environmental pollutants known as “ forever chemicals ” — and a new study links such exposure to colorectal (colon) cancer .
Specifically, researchers at the University of Kentucky looked at long-term exposure to PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) in mice and confirmed their findings in human cells. Results showed that exposure — commonly in food and water — can chip away at an enzyme in the intestines (HMGCS2) that can help protect against cancer.
Research has established that PFOS can increase risk of other types of cancer, including breast and liver, but this is the first to study the effects of the chemicals on this enzyme.
One of the researchers, Yekaterina Zaytseva, said it’s “not so easy” to mitigate these pollutants in the environment.