science
Swedish Study Links Prenatal High-Level PFAS Exposure to Increased Asthma Risk in Children
A study in southern Sweden examined over 11,000 children born between 2006 and 2022 and found that prenatal exposure to very high levels of PFAS was associated with higher asthma diagnosis rates. The research focused on areas with contaminated water supplies, including Ronneby, where exposure levels were hundreds of times above general population averages.
Apr 9, 2:00 PM·2m read1 source
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A Swedish study published in PLOS Medicine analyzed data from more than 11,000 children born between 2006 and 2022 in southern Sweden. Researchers investigated the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemicals used in products such as firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, and water-resistant materials.
PFAS are persistent in the environment and human body, with prior links to immune system effects.
The study utilized a natural experiment in Ronneby, where drinking water was contaminated for years by firefighting foam from a nearby military site. This contamination resulted in exposure levels hundreds of times higher than in the general population. Children whose mothers experienced very high PFAS exposure during pregnancy showed a higher incidence of clinically diagnosed asthma.
association was found between PFAS exposure and wheezing, and lower exposure levels did not show a clear link to asthma.
The researchers noted that mixed results in prior studies may stem from varying exposure intensities. The analysis relied on estimated exposure based on residential locations rather than individual measurements. " — Study authors (The Independent) Independent experts, including respiratory epidemiologist Associate Professor Peter Franklin from the University of Western Australia, stated that the increased risk appeared only in the highest exposure group.
Franklin noted that average PFAS concentrations in the very high exposure group exceeded those in the general population and even communities near contamination sites in Australia. He emphasized that effects of low-level exposure remain unclear.
contamination has been identified in water supplies worldwide, often tied to industrial activities and firefighting foams.
