PFAS Exposure and Epigenetics in the Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study

Firefighters are at increased risk for multiple cancers. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposures are among the hazardous exposures firefighters face, and PFAS are linked to adverse health outcomes including cancers. Epigenetics, including DNA methylation, is one biological mechanism that controls whether genes or turned on or off. DNA methylation is responsive to exposures, and widespread changes to DNA methylation are part of the development of cancers. Dr. Jeff Burgess and Dr. Jackie Goodrich presented a study they conducted looking at the impact of PFAS on DNA methylation in US firefighters. Investigators reported links between higher PFAS levels with epigenetic markers, including accelerated epigenetic age and DNA methylation of genes implicated in cancer, immune function, and other disease processes.

This webinar is one in a monthly series sponsored by the EDC Strategies Partnership. The EDC Strategies Partnership is co-chaired by Sharyle Patton (Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center), Jerry Heindel (Commonweal HEEDS, Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies), Genon Jensen (HEAL, Health and Environment Alliance), Sarah Howard (HEEDS and the Commonweal Diabetes and Environment Program), and Hannah Donart (Commonweal CHE, Collaborative on Health and the Environment). To see a full list of past calls and webinars related to EDCs and listen to or view recordings, please visit our partnership page. For updates and more information on upcoming webinars, sign up for our HEEDS, HEAL, and CHE newsletters!

This webinar was moderated by Sharyle Patton, Director of the Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center. It lasted for 45 minutes and was recorded for our call and webinar archive.

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[Rafa.mudo.]

It's amazing to me that it's even permited for some of this equipment to be out in the wild, I was going to buy a sleeping bag and I, absolutely by chance, saw the teeny tiny tag that said "this may cause you cancer" and not only that but the environmental effect it has, just another sample of greedy companies not caring about people and our world.