Beware! A family of three was diagnosed with thyroid cancer one after another, and the culprit turned out to be this common substance!

Recently, Ms. Yang, 42, from Jiangsu, went to the hospital for a checkup because she had a frequent cough and a foreign body in her throat. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. At the doctor's suggestion, her mother and brother who were accompanying her also underwent a checkup and were both diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Studies have shown that the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased rapidly in recent years and has become one of the fastest growing malignant tumors in my country.

The high-risk factors for thyroid cancer are generally related to age, gender, family history, obesity, and exposure to ionizing radiation. So, what are the potential factors in daily life that can cause cancer?

Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances is a potential risk factor for thyroid cancer

Studies have shown possible links between PFOA exposure and high cholesterol, kidney and testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and thyroid disease , suggesting that PFOA is a potential factor in the increased trend of thyroid cancer.

What items contain PFAS chemicals?

Perfluoroalkyl (PFOA) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment due to their stable chemical structure. As so-called "forever chemicals", they are present in soil, water, and air. In addition, PFAS have been found in a variety of products (e.g. , non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam waterproofing, stain-resistant furniture and clothing), food and drinking water, and even some cosmetics . Studies have shown that >95% of the general population has been exposed to PFOA and PFAS.

PFAS are made up of carbon and fluorine atoms and do not degrade in the environment. A 2015 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that PFAS were detected in the blood of 99% of Americans . The half-life of PFAS in water is 92 years, and PFOS is the main source of exposure. Therefore, hundreds of contaminated public drinking water systems in the United States will continue to be a source of exposure to these potential carcinogens.

How do PFAS cause cancer?

Today, a paper titled "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Exposure and Thyroid Cancer Risk" from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States was published. The study reported the carcinogenicity of PFAS. A total of 88 adult thyroid cancer patients participated in the study. The whole research process was roughly like this. The included patients collected plasma samples at the time of or before cancer diagnosis. Of these patients, 74 had papillary thyroid cancer. The control study population included 88 healthy individuals who were matched on age, gender, race, body mass index, smoking status, and year of sample collection. The researchers detected eight types of PFAS in plasma samples collected from patients by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. 1) The results of the study found that for every doubling of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOS), the diagnosis rate of thyroid cancer increased by 56% (see Figure 1)

(Figure 1 Association between log2-plasma PFAS concentration and thyroid cancer) 2) PFOS and co-exposure are associated with circulating immune-inflammatory biomarkers . In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that PFOS exposure increases reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with inflammation. Finally, PFOS activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, thereby promoting the occurrence and regulation of thyroid cancer. Finally, let's summarize briefly. The widespread presence of PFAS chemicals is associated with a potential risk of thyroid cancer. Therefore, we need to be vigilant about the ways of exposure to these substances in our daily lives, such as avoiding the use of products containing PFAS, paying attention to the quality of drinking water, and paying attention to the ingredients of cosmetics. For patients with thyroid cancer, especially those with a family history, it is necessary to strengthen their awareness of prevention and reduce exposure to PFAS to reduce the risk of disease.