the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hoosick Falls NY, Loreen Hackett faced the daunting challenge of battling cancer not once, but twice, before reaching the age of 50. Her first encounter with the disease occurred in her 20s when cancerous cells were discovered in her cervix, prompting her to undergo a hysterectomy at the young age of 28. Nearly two decades later, she found herself confronting cancer again, this time diagnosed with breast cancer.
As a resident of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., where state agencies detected troubling levels of a certain type of compound known as PFOA in the community’s groundwater supplies and private wells in 2016, Hackett began to suspect a connection between her illnesses and the contamination of drinking water with “forever chemicals.”
While scientists continue to investigate the potential links between exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and breast and gynecological cancers, conclusive evidence remains elusive. PFAS, ubiquitous in consumer products like Teflon pans and waterproof apparel, have permeated the air, water, and soil due to manufacturing processes, with an estimated 97 percent of Americans carrying traces of these chemicals in their blood.
Although numerous studies have hinted at connections between PFAS exposure and various cancers and health issues, establishing direct causality poses significant challenges. Suzanne Fenton, formerly of the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health, highlighted the complexity of cancer development, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of breast and ovarian cancers and the diverse interactions they may have with PFAS.
Moreover, individuals are exposed to a myriad of environmental chemicals over different periods, complicating efforts to isolate the role of PFAS in specific cancer types. Despite these challenges, experts concur that exposure to PFAS could compromise immune function, potentially increasing susceptibility to a range of illnesses, including cancer.
Both animal and human studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of certain PFAS on immune function, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider incorporating these findings into health advisories for select PFAS compounds. As research continues, individuals like Loreen Hackett underscore the urgency of addressing PFAS contamination and its potential health impacts on affected communities.
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