Forever chemicals may speed up biological ageing

What if particles from the pan used to make your evening meal could remain in your body for years? Many everyday products found in homes, schools and offices contain chemicals known as PFAS.

Often described as “forever chemicals”, these substances help products remain durable, waterproof and heat-resistant. PFAS are frequently present in non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpets, waterproof coats and even some food packaging.

Although the chemicals may seem practical and convenient, scientists are increasingly concerned about what occurs once PFAS enter the human body.

Everyday chemicals could damage health

PFAS is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are known as forever chemicals because they are highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to remain in both the environment and the human body for years.

After PFAS reach soil, water or the body, they may persist for an exceptionally long time. Their durability is useful in manufacturing, yet it also presents major concerns.

Scientists have associated PFAS with health problems including certain cancers, obesity, infertility and hormonal changes.

Global leaders acted in response to these risks. In 2001, the Stockholm Convention identified older PFAS chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA, for phase-out.

Companies subsequently introduced newer PFAS as substitutes. This has led many people to question whether the newer compounds are genuinely safer.

Forever chemicals and ageing

Earlier research has largely concentrated on individual diseases. A recent study investigated another issue: rather than asking whether PFAS cause a particular illness, researchers examined whether certain PFAS could accelerate ageing itself.

Dr. Xiangwei Li and colleagues at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) led the study.

The researchers analysed information from 326 adults who took part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.

Every participant gave a blood sample, which scientists screened for 11 distinct PFAS chemicals.

How biological age is measured

Rather than simply assessing chemical concentrations, the team also studied the DNA methylome – small chemical tags on DNA that help control the way genes work.

These molecular markers can indicate how rapidly the body is ageing below the surface.

Scientists use specialist methods known as epigenetic clocks to estimate biological age, which can differ from a person’s actual age in years.

When biological age is higher than chronological age, the body may be ageing more rapidly than anticipated. Accelerated ageing is often associated with a greater likelihood of disease later in life.

Chemicals associated with accelerated ageing

Two chemicals emerged when the researchers compared PFAS concentrations against markers of biological ageing.

Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) were detected in 95 percent of participants. Greater levels of these two chemicals were associated with faster biological ageing.

The most pronounced effect was seen in men aged between 50 and 64. Women did not display the same distinct pattern.

The finding surprised the researchers and prompted further questions over how chemical exposure affects different bodies.

Concerns over newer chemicals

Drawing on the results, the researchers gave a clear warning about the possible risks from these compounds.

“Here we show that specific forever chemicals, namely perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), appear to accelerate biological aging, with middle-aged men being the most vulnerable group,” said Dr. Li.

“These findings suggest that some newer PFAS alternatives are not necessarily low-risk replacements and warrant serious attention regarding their environmental impact.”

Some PFAS have more pronounced effects

The findings indicated that PFAS do not all act in the same way. Other widespread PFAS, found in most participants, did not demonstrate a strong association with accelerated ageing.

Total PFAS levels were broadly alike among men and women. This suggests that the precise chemical involved may matter more than the overall amount present in the blood.

The team also considered why the effects were stronger in middle-aged men. Midlife could be a vulnerable phase, during which the body is more susceptible to stress and damage.

Midlife could be a vulnerable phase

“Midlife is a sensitive biological window where the body becomes more susceptible to age-related stressors, which may explain why this group responds more strongly to chemical exposure,” explained Dr. Ya-Qian Xu, the study’s first author.

“We suspect that men may be at higher risk because the aging markers we analyzed are heavily influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can compound the damaging effects of these pollutants,” Dr Li added.

Lifestyle influences could interact with chemical exposure and amplify harm. That combination may partly explain why some groups are at higher risk.

Government action is required

Countries have begun to take action. France has prohibited PFAS in clothing and cosmetics.

The European Union is considering further restrictions. Such measures reflect rising concern about older and newer PFAS chemicals alike.

Experts say that regulators should not concentrate solely on the familiar older chemicals. Substances such as PFNA and PFOSA also require careful scrutiny. Meanwhile, people can make small changes to reduce their potential risk.

“Meanwhile, to reduce risk, individuals can try to limit their consumption of packaged foods and avoid microwaving fast-food containers,” noted Dr. Li.

“Looking ahead, we are actively modeling how PFAS interacts with other common pollutants, as we need to understand the cumulative health risks of these chemical mixtures.”

As research progresses, scientists and public health officials will seek a clearer understanding of how these forever chemicals influence long-term health.