Shocking new data reveals three types of PFAS – dubbed 'forever chemicals' – are present in the blood of over 85% of Australians, with some detected in 99% of adults. The findings come from the first nationwide study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), sparking urgent questions about long-term health impacts. 💉
PFAS chemicals, used in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam, don’t break down naturally and have been linked to cancer risks. The ABS tested 11 variants and found:
🔥 PFOS (used in textiles): 99% of males, 98% of females
🍳 PFOA (common in cookware): 98% of males, 94% of females
🧯 PFHxS (firefighting foam): 94% of males, 83% of females
Older Australians and men showed higher concentrations, with researchers calling this a 'national baseline' for future monitoring. 🌡️ The World Health Organization’s cancer agency recently classified PFOA as carcinogenic and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic.
While health authorities stress 'no immediate cause for alarm,' the study highlights the stealthy spread of industrial chemicals in modern life. Could this be a global wake-up call? 🌍🔬
