New Delhi: According to one study, excessive levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the blood can make it difficult to sleep effectively and serve as a precondition to a variety of disorders.
Previous research has found that “forever chemicals” have contaminated water, food, and people via products such as Teflon cookware, waterproof garments, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, and food packaging. Studies have also indicated that they play a role in breast, ovarian, skin, and uterine malignancies in women, among other disorders.
The current study, led by the University of South California (USC), connected greater levels of four specific forms of PFAs in the blood with disturbances to a crucial pillar of health: sleep.
PFAS enter the body through interaction with consumer products and can even be consumed with food and drink. They do not degrade readily and can remain in the environment for decades.
Sleep is an essential element of good health. A person must get 7-8 hours of sleep per day. Prolonged lack of sleep can lead to chronic health problems such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Advances, included 144 volunteers aged 19 to 24 who provided blood samples and sleep data.
Four of the seven kinds of PFAS investigated were substantially related to less sleep or poorer sleep quality: PFDA, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFOS.
Young individuals with greater amounts of these hazardous substances in their blood get 80 minutes less sleep every night. They also had difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up, and feeling exhausted throughout waking hours.
All four everlasting compounds, some of which have been linked to cancer and neurological illnesses ranging from ADHD to Alzheimer’s disease, are classified as “legacy PFAS.”
The researchers also investigated the overlap between genes altered by the four everlasting chemicals and genes associated with sleep disorders.
Of the 600-plus potential genes activated by PFAS, seven appeared to regulate sleep. This includes HSD11B1, which aids in the production of the hormone cortisol, which is vital in regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
Another gene was cathepsin B, which is associated with cognitive function and memory. This gene disruption has been connected to Alzheimer’s disease.
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–IANS
