One limitation of the study is that it did not specify which type of diabetes the women had. The researchers noted that most cases diagnosed in adulthood are type 2 diabetes, which is associated with aging and obesity.
Also, this study was not a controlled experiment aimed at proving whether or how PFAS directly cause diabetes.
Still, the researchers concluded that reducing exposure to PFAS may be one way to prevent diabetes.
This is not easy to do because these chemicals are found in drinking water, contaminated soil near industrial areas, dairy products, meat, fish, and food packaging such as pizza boxes and candy wrappers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“PFAS are also ‘ubiquitous chemicals.’ These compounds are widely used in industrial and consumer applications,” Dr. Park said. “If you go about your daily life, there’s no way to avoid them.”
Previous studies have linked PFAS exposure to an increased risk of diabetes. According to the EPA, exposure to these chemicals can also cause a wide range of other health problems, including:
- Reduced female fertility and increased risk of pregnancy complications
- Developmental delays in children, such as low birth weight or early puberty
- Increased risk of certain cancers, including malignant tumors of the prostate, kidney, and testicles
- Reduced ability to fight infections and reduced response to vaccines
- Increased risk of obesity
Some previous research suggests that diabetes may not be an inevitable consequence of PFAS exposure.
For example, a study published in 2019 followed 957 mostly overweight and obese adults without diabetes for two years. They were randomly assigned to either continue their normal eating and exercise habits or make significant lifestyle changes to lose 7% of their body weight. Among the subset of participants who were exposed to elevated PFAS levels during the study, those who made significant lifestyle changes did not have an increased risk of diabetes. The risk increased only for people who continued their unhealthy habits.
