The study was conducted in Finland, Sweden, and Canada on 51 mothers and children. Researchers measured PFAS levels in the mothers’ blood during pregnancy, then conducted brain scans of the children at the age of five.
The results showed an association between different types of PFAS and changes in the connectivity of brain regions, suggesting a potential impact on neurodevelopment.
Chemist Tulia Hutilainen from Örebro University explained that the team measured seven types of PFAS, and each type was associated with different brain regions, noting that some of them showed opposite effects on the same region.
Among the findings, PFNA and PFOA were linked to changes in the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain, as well as the hypothalamus and the occipital lobe, which is responsible for vision.
The researchers indicated that some types of PFAS affect brain structure more depending on their chemical composition, but the functional impact of these changes is still unclear.
Neuroscientist Hasse Karlsson from the University of Turku said that PFAS can cross the placenta and blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain, which could affect the growth of nerve cells, calling for additional studies to find out how harmful these changes are.
PFAS compounds have been used since the 1950s in industries for their resistance to water, fat and heat, and although some have been banned, they are still widespread in the environment — from rainwater to cosmetics, cookware and pizza boxes.
It has been found in wildlife, water and the blood of most adults in the United States and Australia, and has previously been linked to diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular problems, prompting scientists to search for ways to reduce exposure through water, food and the environment. (Arm News)
