Researchers at the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) have gained worrying insights into the spread of PFAS in the blood and possible health consequences as part of the "Rhineland Study". We spoke about this with study leader Monique M. B. Breteler.
Professor Breteler, what is new about your latest research findings?
Monique Breteler: Our data show a statistically significant association between PFAS chemicals in human blood and unhealthy blood lipid profiles, which are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This finding is based on data from more than 2,500 adults from Bonn and the Dutch municipality of Leiderdorp. PFAS were detectable in the blood of almost all study participants. The higher the PFAS level, the higher the concentration of harmful lipids. Strictly speaking, this is not yet definitive proof that PFAS are the cause of the unfavourable lipid profiles, but the close correlation supports this suspicion.
Did you expect this? Does this concern you personally?
Monique Breteler: We suspected a link between PFAS and negative health implications, but we were still surprised by the extent and clarity of the results. I didn't expect to find high PFAS levels in everyone involved - in both younger and older people! Personally, I am concerned as it shows how widespread and profound the effects of PFAS are.
How has the public reacted to your research? Are we sensitive enough to the issue?
Monique Breteler: The news about our research was covered for days and in several major media outlets across Germany and internationally. It is indeed important to emphasise that the findings on the harmful effects of PFAS on health are not new. Numerous studies have now shown that PFAS have negative effects on health in various ways. In light of these findings, it is essential that we as a society become even more aware of these risks.
We are therefore pleased that our publication has triggered further discussions with politicians and legislators and will fulfil our responsibility to continue these discussions. In the meantime, we are continuing our research to generate further relevant data to guide and support the societal debate. It is crucial that this issue continues to receive increasing public attention and is taken seriously by industry and policymakers.
PFAS are still present in many products. Can people in this country specifically reduce their personal PFAS exposure and that of their children?
Monique Breteler: Personal exposure to PFAS can only be controlled to a certain extent. For example, individuals can consciously pay attention to the composition of the materials they use in their everyday lives. This includes food packaging materials, non-stick coatings on pans and the impregnation of outdoor clothing, which may contain PFAS. However, PFAS have also been detected in drinking water and food, which shows that they are now ubiquitous. It is therefore impossible to completely protect oneself from PFAS exposure. Therefore, this issue needs to be addressed at a political and legislative level.
A complete ban on PFAS is under discussion. This is viewed very critically in the industry, including in medical technology. There do not seem to be enough alternatives available. How can this dilemma be resolved?
Monique Breteler: First of all, it is essential to recognise that PFAS have serious health effects that cannot simply be ignored. However, this does not mean that PFAS cannot also be used in a positive way. To solve the dilemma, a balanced approach is required that takes both the health risks of PFAS seriously and the requirements of medical technology production, for example, into account.
In most areas of application, the use of these persistent chemicals should be avoided in the future. This requires a more critical examination of existing products and a rethink in product development. There is still a lack of comprehensive research into the health effects of the newer PFAS compounds in particular, which have not been in circulation for very long. The fact that there is currently no evidence that the new PFAS compounds are harmful does not mean that they are harmless. It is therefore of great importance to continue intensive research into the effects of PFAS on health.
For the industry, these research results should be an incentive to develop materials that improve people's lives without compromising their health. Close co-operation between industry, science and regulatory authorities is essential in order to find sustainable solutions that protect both the environment and health.
About the person
Prof Dr Dr Monique M. B. Breteler is Director of Population Health Sciences at the DZNE in Bonn. She researches the causes of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases as well as the basis for healthy ageing. Her research centres on how the brain changes over the course of a lifetime. Breteler has made a significant contribution to understanding Alzheimer's as a complex and multi-layered disease. Since the early 1990s, Breteler has also played a key role in the development of large-scale population studies. She heads the Rhineland Study at the DZNE in Bonn, which was launched in 2016. Breteler is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
