The news just keeps getting worse for “forever chemicals.”
These man-made substances — designed to repel oil, water and stains — can be found in thousands of everyday items, from nonstick pans and fast-food wrappers to waterproof jackets.
Scientists have already linked them to a laundry list of health problems, including liver damage, high cholesterol, fertility troubles, birth defects and several types of cancer.
Now, new research suggests that people exposed to two major environmental toxins — perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or MS.
The chronic autoimmune disease attacks the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
It can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including numbness, muscle weakness, trouble walking, vision problems, extreme fatigue, pain and cognitive difficulties.
“People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PCBs had approximately twice as high odds of being diagnosed with MS, compared with those with the lowest concentrations,” Kim Kultima, who led the study, said in a press release.
Previous research has shown that forever chemicals can interfere with the immune system, either weakening it or sending it into overdrive.
That immune disruption has been tied to autoimmune diseases beyond MS, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
In the new study, Kultima and her team analyzed blood samples from 900 people in Sweden recently diagnosed with MS and compared them with samples from people without the disease.
The researchers measured toxin levels in each group, then used statistical models to see how strongly chemical exposure lined up with the odds of developing MS.
Because people are typically exposed to multiple chemicals at once, the team also looked at how combined exposure affected their risk.
“We could then see that an increase in total exposure was linked to higher odds of MS, even after adjusting for previously known lifestyle and genetic risk factors,” said Aina Vaivade, the study’s first author.
The team also dug into genetics, looking at how inherited traits might interact with chemical exposure.
In earlier studies, people carrying a certain gene variant were thought to have a lower risk of developing MS. However, the new research found that those same people had higher odds of MS if they were also exposed to elevated levels of PFOS.
“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between inheritance and environmental exposure linked to the odds of MS,” Kultima said.
“We therefore think it is important to understand how environmental contaminants interact with hereditary factors, as this can provide new knowledge about the genesis of MS and could also be relevant for other diseases,” she added.
While the study focused on people with MS, it adds to mounting evidence that these chemicals pose serious long-term health risks.
They seep into the soil, water and air — and studies show nearly all Americans have measurable levels in their blood, including newborns.
Even more troubling, the toxins don’t break down easily, allowing them to linger in the environment, and inside the human body, for an unknown amount of time.
That’s why PCBs, despite being banned in the US since 1979, are still found in the environment and older products. PFAS, meanwhile, remain widely used today.
Experts say there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure, such as filtering drinking water and steering clear of nonstick cookware and grease-resistant food packaging.
Looking for “PFAS-free” labels and choosing fresh, unpackaged foods can further help cut down contact with these chemicals both at home and in your everyday diet.
