Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7

Toxic PFAS absorbed through skin at levels higher than thought

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 30 Jun 2024 21:39
3 Min Read

Researchers at Birmingham University used studies that model lab-grown tissue to evaluate the percentage of PFAS compounds being absorbed into human skin.

Listen
  • x
  • Toxic PFAS absorbed through skin at levels higher than thought
    A water researcher pours a water sample into a smaller glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and PFAS research at the US Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response on February 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP)

A new study "for the first time proves" that hazardous PFAS chemicals are absorbed via human skin at significantly higher quantities than previously believed.

Though modeling and studies have shown that the harmful chemicals are absorbed via the skin, University of Birmingham researchers say they utilized lab-grown tissue that resembles human skin to quantify the amount of PFAS compounds that may be absorbed.

According to main author Oddný Ragnarsdóttir, "Uptake through the skin could be a significant source of exposure to these harmful chemicals."

Known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are a group of about 16,000 chemicals used to make items resistant to water, stains, and heat. They do not naturally degrade and have been discovered to accumulate in people. The chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth abnormalities, liver illness, thyroid disease, low sperm counts, and a variety of other major health issues.

Humans are most typically exposed to them through water and nutrition, but researchers have focused on inhalation and skin absorption recently. The latter is especially concerning given the extensive spectrum of PFAS-containing goods that come into contact with the skin, including bandages, waterproof clothes, cosmetics, personal care goods, furniture, baby items, and guitar strings.

Related News

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham intend to deploy toxic materials in Aleppo, Idlib

Banned chemicals in EU since Brexit still allowed for use in UK

The researchers placed samples of 17 distinct PFAS compounds into a three-dimensional tissue model and were able to determine the percentage of the chemicals that were absorbed.

The skin absorbed "substantial" levels of 15 PFAS, including 13.5% of PFOA, one of the most hazardous and prevalent forms of the toxin. A prolonged treatment allowed the skin to absorb 38% more of the PFOA dosage. US officials determined that nearly no amount of PFOA exposure in drinking water is safe.

PFOA is a bigger molecule, but smaller "short-chain" PFAS, which the industry currently more regularly makes and claims to be safer, were absorbed in higher amounts - up to nearly 60% of one short-chain compound dosage was absorbed through the skin.

Co-author of the study Stuart Harrad explained that “this is important because we see a shift in industry towards chemicals with shorter chain lengths because these are believed to be less toxic – however the trade-off might be that we absorb more of them, so we need to know more about the risks involved."

In 2023, a major mapping project found that forever chemicals were found in high concentrations at thousands of sites across the UK and Europe.

A US Geological Survey suggested in 2023 that almost 50% of tap water in the US is contaminated with them. 

  • forever chemicals
  • toxic chemical
  • PFAS contamination
  • PFAS
  • PFAS chemicals

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS