From
WebMD:
A chemical compound used to make non-stick cookware, food wrappers, and water-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics has been linked to an increased risk for thyroid disease in an early study.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has previously been shown to influence thyroid hormone levels in animals.
But the newly reported study is among the first to suggest that exposure to PFOA might cause thyroid disease in humans.
The study included nearly 4,000 adults who took part in the CDC’s ongoing nationwide Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) study between 1999 and 2006.
Researchers found that participants who had the highest levels of PFOA in their blood also had the highest self-reported incidence of thyroid disease.
Specifically, women with the top 25% of PFOA concentrations were more than twice as likely to report taking drugs for thyroid disease as the 50% of participants with the lowest concentrations. A similar trend was seen in men, although it didn’t reach statistical significance.
The study does not prove that PFOA exposure is a direct cause of thyroid disease, researcher David Melzer, PhD, of Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, England, tells WebMD.
“I personally am far from sure, but it might prove to be an important risk factor for people who are already susceptible,” he says.
Concerns have been raised about the man-made chemicals because they are now found in low levels in the environment and in the blood of most people and they remain in the blood for many years.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating the compound, but at present it considers the routine use of consumer products made with it to be safe.