Firefighting foam, or AFFF, that firefighters use to control untamable fires often leads to a host of health issues. It’s because this toxic foam has PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), which are also called ‘forever chemicals’. It remains in nature and the human body when inhaled and causes major harm.
Currently, nearly 35% to 37% of the Welsh and English water courses have tested positive for PFAS contamination. Hence, the Royal Society of Chemistry is urging the UK government to renovate the drinking water standards. It’s because these chemicals cause testicular cancer, increased cholesterol, thyroid disease, and liver damage.
Recently, it has also been found that forever chemicals can also result in fertility problems and hinder the development of an unborn child. To learn more about this, keep reading this article.
Can PFAS Affect Unborn Children?
As health hazards related to PFAS exposure through air or water sources surface, victims lodge a legal complaint. According to the June 2024 AFFF lawsuit update, almost 9,198 cases were added last month to the MDL in the US.
In April 2023, the Independent reported that the UK government aimed to ban a few chemicals that are harmful to the environment and human health. The HSE (Health Safety Executive) suggested limiting the use of foams that have PFAS because of their side effects.
One of the after-effects of PFAS exposure is fertility issues among women. Researchers from ‘The University of Aberdeen’ and ‘Orebro University’ studied 78 fetuses and published a study in ‘The Lancet Planetary Health’. It is a one-of-a-kind study, where the researchers conduct metabolic profiling and evaluate the impact of PFAS on a human fetus.
Professor Paul Fowler, who belongs to the University of Aberdeen, said that they found PFAS in the livers of fetuses. That offers powerful evidence that exposure to this chemical in the womb affects an unborn child. People exposed to high levels of PFAS experience altered liver function and metabolism much before their birth.
The researchers asserted that chances are there that a few effects will be persistent and maximize the risks of metabolic ailments as the child grows up. Tuulia Hyötyläinen, a professor from Örebro University, added that they were rather surprised to find how these chemicals change with alterations in the fetal metabolism. It’s much like the metabolic changes that adults face.
Moreover, they found that PFAS exposure is connected with lipid and modified bile acid metabolism in the fetus. The obvious effect of PFAS is much like the changes that take place because of metabolic health conditions like fatty liver and diabetes. Also, the 78 fetuses evaluated by the researchers were aborted voluntarily between 12 and 19 weeks.
Hence, it is safe to conclude that women who intend to get pregnant should avoid PFAS at all costs. They should be careful about their drinking water and be aware of sources of AFFF close to their home to take the necessary measures.
Can PFAS Lead to Lower Sperm Count in Men?
Even indirectly, men are affected because of PFAS exposure. In October 2022, progress.org.uk mentioned that reduced sperm count, motility, and quality can occur because of AFFF contamination. The young men might get affected if their mothers are exposed to ‘forever chemicals’ during the first trimester.
According to Dr. Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg, who administered a study at the Copenhagen University Hospital, shared useful insights. She said that the reproductive capacity of a man is hugely defined during the first trimester. It’s because during this time, the testicles develop.
Therefore, exposure to PFAS, which can mimic hormones and interfere with them, might disrupt the standard development. It can also affect the semen quality in later life.
Additionally, Tøttenborg’s team found a profound link between mothers with increased PFAS levels and low sperm concentration (8% reduction) and count (10% reduction) in their sons. Also, there was a high mix of nonprogressive and immobile sperm (5% increase) in adulthood, which are the primary factors leading to infertility.
They took into consideration confounders like alcohol consumption and maternal age at the time of the evaluation. But Tøttenborg and her colleagues found out that comparing various links and PFAS mix-making use of the same data can maximize the risk of developing crucial outcomes by coincidence. Hence, it is necessary to keep in mind that semen quality and plasma concentration will differ.
Seeking Legal Help
It is necessary to establish that PFAS exposure results in significant health complications through medical reports in order to seek compensation. TruLaw states that consulting a lawyer will help you address legal matters better. Other than infertility, the health hazards also include breast, colon, kidney, and pancreatic cancer.
Your lawyer will help you collect the necessary proof and use it to build a strong case. They will also let you know about the statute of limitations and the settlement payout. The compensatory amount can vary because it is case-specific and can depend on the degree of individual suffering.
It’s always best to work with a lawyer because they have the correct legal knowledge and expertise to guide you. That way, you follow the required protocols and get your compensation on time.
To sum up, it is a known fact that ‘forever chemicals’ hurt human health and the environment. Other than polluting water sources, it also leads to infertility in women and men, along with other health hazards. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that pregnant women aren’t exposed to this chemical during pregnancy. Overall, it’s best to exercise caution with this chemical to stay safe in the long run.