PFAS Causes Kidney Damage And Gut Issues, Reveals New Study

A new study found that PFAS or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances could impair kidney functions through disruption in gut microbiota. The study is published in the journal Sciences of the Total Environment.

The study was conducted by analysing data from 78 participants who were between the ages of 17 to 22. These participants were enrolled in the Southern California Children's Health Study, which is a long-term effort that examines pollution's impact on health. More than half of the participants were Hispanic, a demographic which is already at higher risk for chronic kidney disease.

For the study, the researchers collected blood and stool samples to measure PFAs exposure and evaluate gut microbiota composition. A follow-up was also conducted four years later and kidney functions were assessed.

The study found that for every standard deviation increase in PFA exposure, kidney function worsened by 2.4%. It also identified two distinct group of bacteria and metabolites that played a major role in this decline. One group was accounted for 38% of the change, while other had 50%. Both sets of beneficial bacteria help to reduce inflammation, however, exposure of PFAs led to them being suppressed.

"We observed that PFAS exposure altered the gut microbiome by reducing anti-inflammatory bacteria and metabolites, while increasing harmful inflammatory ones," said Hailey Hampson, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and the lead author of the study.

The research, though works with a small sample size, also mentioned in its limitation, does highlight inflammation and oxidative stress as possible mechanisms that link PFAS exposure to kidney damage. This could be way ahead for more such research to be conducted with a larger sample size. The team does plan to extend their research by examining metabolites in specific tissues, including the kidney.

They are known as "forever chemicals". These are found in everyday products, including furniture and food packaging. These chemicals persist in the environment and in the human bodies and breaks down extremely slowly.

There already have been studies that prove that exposure to PFAS is linked to other health issues like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic kidney disease, though the biological pathways remain unclear.

"Nearly everyone has PFAS in their blood, and these chemicals are associated with numerous health risks. But without known interventions to reduce PFAS levels, it’s difficult to provide actionable recommendations," said Hampson.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and investigated the relationship between PFAS exposure, gut microbiota changes and kidney functions.

Researchers also found that increased PFAS exposure correlated with poorer kidney function, after participants were assessed four years later. Changes were notices in gut microbiome and related metabolites, that accounted for a 50% decline in kidney health.

This research offers early insights for policymakers to develop strategies to mitigate PFAS-related health risks,” said Jesse A. Goodrich, PhD, senior author of the study and assistant professor at the Keck School of Medicine.