Forever Chemicals Permanently Damage Your Health
Early exposure to forever chemicals hinders gut microbiome development.
New research from Penn State provided important insight into the link between the alarming rise of metabolic disorders and the consumption of forever chemicals. Metabolic disorders are abnormal conditions in which the body is unable to process and distribute nutrients, leading to potentially serious medical issues. Researchers have struggled to pinpoint their root causes. However, a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives suggests one of the culprits might be a damaged gut microbiome due to early exposure to forever chemicals.
“The establishment of the microbiome in early life is gaining appreciation as a major influencer in human development and long-term health outcomes” (Tian, et al., 2024)
Let’s Talk About Your Cecum
It’s home to the gut microbiome. Located at the beginning of the large intestine, this pocket houses trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even parasites. Together, they form a delicate and essential ecosystem that scientists are only beginning to understand.
The ancient Greeks identified the cecum circa the 6th century BCE when natural philosophers like Alcmaedon of Croton performed some of the first medical dissections on animals. In fact, the name comes from the Latin translation of the ancient Greek word for “blind intestine.” At the time and for millennia afterward, there was little reason to suspect that the cecum was anything special. However, in the 18th century, scientists began to study what is now called the “gut-brain axis.” Though they did not yet understand the role of the cecum and its complex ecosystem, they correctly believed that its microbiota influenced everything from digestion to emotions.
Today, our understanding of the gut microbiome and the gut-brain axis has grown substantially. The cecum, the little 7cm-long pocket of microorganisms, is thought to have a profound influence over both the body and mind. For example, the gut microbiome helps synthesize essential vitamins like K, B1, B9, and B12, all of which affect the immune system, the nervous system, the endocrine system, etc. It can affect your mood, behavior, allergies, and the likelihood of developing neurological and autoimmune diseases. Some researchers believe manipulating the gut microbiome can be an effective means of treating many different pathological conditions, as virtually “All systems are regulated by one or more products of the microbiota.” So when the gut microbiome is not functioning properly, virtually the rest of the body and mind are negatively affected.
“Hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this ‘brain in your gut’ is revolutionizing medicine’s understanding of the links between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think.” –John Hopkins Medicine
And its proper functioning depends on how it develops. The gut microbiome begins at birth and develops over the next 3 or so years. Everything from diet to environment to genetics plays a role. A growing body of evidence suggests environmental pollutants can hinder how it develops. In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers found that exposure to pollutants has a “dramatic effect” on gut microbiota, “shaping their composition and boosting the selection of strains with degrading capacity.”
Global Burden of Metabolic Disease
Metabolic diseases are on the rise, and scientists are struggling to explain why. A study from the journal Cell looked at the total change in the prevalence of metabolic diseases from 2000 to 2019. The authors found, “The global prevalence of metabolic diseases has risen over the past two decades regardless of SDI.” SDI stands for Sustainable Development Index, and it ranks countries based on their ability to provide the basics for their people in a sustainable manner. This suggests that the cause is everpresent and not related to the level of development or location.
The researchers looked at hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Among the many results, they found that 40% of deaths from metabolic disorders were linked to obesity.
Forever Chemicals Really Are Forever
It started with Fritz Schloffer and Otto Scherer. In 1934, while working for IG Farben, a defunct German chemical company, the two scientists created the first forever chemical: polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE). They realized that, because of its high resistance to heat, chemicals, water, and tensile deformation, PCTFE was perfect for industrial applications. The new chemical hit the commercial market in the 1950s and is still widely used today as a coating in aerospace, electrical, pharmaceutical, medical, and numerous other industries.
In 1936 Roy J. Plunkett went to work for the chemical company DuPont. While trying to find a new type of liquid coolant, he stumbled on the white, waxy substance polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In 1945, PTFE was trademarked as Teflon. After finding initial uses in industrial applications and the Manhattan Project, Teflon took off commercially once French engineer Grégoire realized it could be used as a non-stick coating on cookware. He launched the successful cookware brand Tefal in 1954.
Since these early years, thousands of new and better forever chemicals have been created. The vast majority of these fall under the categories PFAS or PFOS, and their use is accelerating. One study found that “Between 2018 and 2019, PFOA and PFOS experienced a relatively high increase rate of 18.8% and 13.6%, respectively.”
The problem with forever chemicals is that they are too effective. Once they enter the environment, they don’t degrade naturally. In the 8 decades since they were created, they have accumulated in both the water and food supplies. In the US, 45% of samples taken from drinking water show the presence of at least one forever chemical.
And the health implications? Unfortunately, we don’t know. It’s suspected that they might be responsible for a weakened immune system, decreased birth weight, changed liver enzymes, and increased rates of kidney cancer. New research, though, fills in this knowledge gap a bit.
New Research
In a new study, the authors subjected young mice to a particular forever chemical called 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF). TCDF enters the environment as a byproduct of metal production, waste incineration, and wood and fossil fuel burning. Because of its resilience, TCDF accumulates in the food chain, particularly in meat and dairy products.
The researchers split the mice into 2 groups. One group was fed 0.46 micrograms of TCDF over 5 days. The other was given a placebo. As expected, the first group’s gut microbiome was weakened. In particular, the researchers observed a significant decrease in Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacteria linked with healthy metabolic activity. Research has shown that this type of bacteria might be the holy grail for treating metabolic diseases. The authors of a different study claim that this bacteria is a “next-generation beneficial microbe” for treating “obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.”
“Accumulating evidence suggests that microbiota disruptions caused by antibiotic exposure in early life can have long-lasting effects on host health and significantly increase the risk of developing obesity and associated metabolic disorders later in life” (Tian, et al., 2024)
So the link between the rise of metabolic disorders and the prevalence of forever chemicals seems solid. As people consume more forever chemicals, their gut microbiomes are increasingly disrupted, leading to the global rise of metabolic disorders. Of course, much more research is needed.
