A new study led by Catherine Metayer, PhD, of UC Berkeley School of Public Health found that children exposed to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in household dust had a 60% higher risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The research, published in the International Journal of Cancer, analyzed dust samples from 382 homes and identified a mixture of eight PFAS compounds linked to increased leukemia risk in children under seven years old.
PFAS, often called “forever chemicals”, are widely used in consumer products and persist in the environment. This study highlights their potential carcinogenic effects, particularly through immune system disruption. Future research will examine PFAS exposure in prenatal and early childhood blood samples to further understand their role in leukemia development. Read the full study here.