A new scientific study has just shown that PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) can penetrate human skin. PFAS, better known as “perennial pollutants”, group together chemical molecules whose harmfulness is known. However, until now it was thought that these molecules could not pass the barrier of human skin.
The presence of PFAS in the human body is an already known phoneme. The ingestion of these substances was previously associated with the ingestion of water or food contaminated by these molecules. Some of these molecules are banned, while others continue to be used, particularly in cosmetics and care products.
« Our work shows that theory does not always hold up to reality, and that, in fact, the skin can be a significant source of exposure to these dangerous chemicals.”says Dr Oddný Ragnarsdóttir of the University of Birmingham. She is the lead author of the lab study published in Environment International which shows the porosity of human skin to these molecules. Until now, the scientific community thought that these ionized molecules could not cross the skin barrier. However, work carried out in the laboratory using 3D models simulating human skin shows the opposite. According to ScienceDaily, of the 17 PFAS tested, 15 showed substantial rates of absorption through the skin. These levels can reach 5% of the dose and their traces are then found in the blood.
Julien Leprovost
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For further
PFAS: very persistent chemical substances | ANSES – National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety
New study confirms forever chemicals are absorbed through human skin | ScienceDaily
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With the threat of PFAS, the stainless steel pan takes its revenge
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Dermal bioavailability of perfluoroalkyl substances using in vitro 3D human skin equivalent models – ScienceDirect
