- New research from the University of California has linked early exposure to "forever chemicals" (PFAS) with an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most common childhood cancer.
- The study analysed dried blood spots from newborns in Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2015, identifying higher levels of PFOA and PFOS in children who later developed leukaemia.
- PFAS are widely used in products like food packaging and cosmetics due to their repellent and durable properties, but they do not degrade easily and accumulate in the environment and human body.
- These chemicals have previously been associated with various health problems, including other cancers, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and infertility.
- Growing concerns about PFAS have led to calls for stricter regulations in the UK, with MPs urging the government to ban their non-essential use and introduce phased restrictions from 2027.
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