Regular kitchen utensils like non-stick pans have forever chemicals, which have the potential to cause liver and other kinds of cancer
According to some recent studies, the “forever chemicals” present in non-stick kitchenware may be cancer-causing. One of the biggest causes of cancer-related fatalities worldwide, liver cancer, has been linked to it. Unfortunately, many nations throughout the world also lack strict laws and guidelines to control the use of these chemicals in the manufacturing sector, according to specialists.
Can using non-stick cookware lead to cancer?
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Hepatocellular carcinoma, a kind of liver cancer, is linked to high PFAS exposure, according to a 2022 study of a multiethnic cohort of individuals from Los Angeles and Hawaii that was published in JHEP Reports. The primary author, Prof. Jesse A. Goodrich, explained in an email exchange with Happiest Health that “We obtained blood samples from older persons without cancer, and then tracked whether they acquired cancer later in life. In order to determine whether greater levels of PFAS were linked to a higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined the amounts of PFAS in their blood. We discovered that PFAS exposure may raise the risk of HCC, the most prevalent kind of liver cancer.
Also, an assistant professor at Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Prof Goodrich adds that as the participants in the study were exposed to PFAS before developing liver cancer, it is more likely that PFAS may have caused it.
Can PFAS lead to cancer of the liver?
foever chemicals
Persistent pollutants commonly fall under the category of PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). According to experts, PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally degrade and can thus remain in our bodies for a very long time after exposure. Due to groundwater pollution, PFAS are present in many common home items such as non-stick cookware, raincoats, gym equipment, food packaging, some makeup, and even drinking water. Since they have an enduring chemical link, according to Dr. Dodul Mondal, associate director of cancer and radiation oncology at Max Hospital in Saket, New Delhi, they are utilized in these goods primarily for endurance. They can easily enter the body since they come into close touch with food that is being prepared in non-stick vessels.
What is the danger of a forever chemical?
Also read-With These Liver-Friendly Foods, Nourished And Shielded
foever chemicals
Endocrine disrupting substances, or PFAS, are renowned for their ability to interfere with hormones and result in a variety of health issues. These substances may accumulate in the liver, resulting in progressive fatty liver alterations. Long-term exposure causes cirrhosis, which can eventually result in liver cancer, he claims.
But, according to Prof. Dr. Tom Cherian, Senior Liver Specialist & Transplant Surgeon at Manipal Hospitals in Vijayawada and Founder of South Asian Liver Institute, these incidences of liver inflammation brought on by permanently present toxins are extremely rare. “A form of reaction to any harm is fat. That is typical. Alcohol-related harm could possibly be the cause of fatty liver, according to him.
According to Dr. Mondal, additional information and proof are needed to prove that non-stick kitchenware can cause cancer. Numerous epidemiological studies are carried out by some international organizations, such as the WHO’s IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), in order to discover the compounds that may have the potential to cause cancer in humans. However, he adds, “strong evidence for this chemical and human cancer does not yet exist, despite some studies showing some association.”
He adds that testicular cancer and kidney cancer are more frequently linked to these substances. They “can also cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma [cancer that starts in the lymphatic system], ovarian, uterine, thyroid, and other cancers.”
In her study, Prof Goodrich also looked at whether PFAS exposure led to differences in metabolites levels (small naturally occurring chemicals in the blood) that have previously been shown to increase the risk of liver cancer. She says, “This helped us look at the potential mechanisms of how PFAS may cause cancer. We found that PFAS were associated with higher levels of blood sugar, and that higher blood sugar was also associated with risk of liver cancer.”
Takeaways
- Forever chemicals like PFAS found in non-stick kitchen utensils are linked with liver cancer.
- PFAS are found in many common household products like non-stick pans, raincoats, gym accessories, food packaging, and even some makeup and drinking water due to groundwater pollution.
- Forever chemicals can damage the DNA and interfere with hormones, causing several health problems.
- They have also been shown to increase blood sugar levels, raising the risk for liver cancer.
- Precautionary measures include reducing PFAS exposure, using alternatives like stainless steel utensils and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of cancer.
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