(StraightShooterNews.com) – In a shocking find, recent studies have revealed that common foods like white rice, coffee, eggs and seafood are often higher in PFAS, toxic chemicals that accumulatе in the body.
Researchers examined samples from 3,000 pregnant women, uncovering new data that suggests these foods may be more contaminatеd than previously thought.
Additionally, consuming red meat has been linked with еlevated levels of PFOS, one of the most hazardous types of PFAS.
Dartmouth researcher and the study’s lead author Megan Romano emphasized the unescapable nature of these contaminants.
“The results definitely point toward the need for environmental stewardship, and keeping PFAS out of the environment and food chain,” she stated.
“Now we’re in a situation where they’re everywhere and are going to stick around even if we do aggressive remediation,” she added.
Also known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and the human body, PFAS are used in many products for their resistance to water, stains and heat.
These compounds are linked to serious health risks, including cancer, liver disease and reduced fertility.
Despite their widespread use and the risks they pose, food remains a major exposure pathway for these chemicals, more so than water.
The Food and Drug Administration has been criticized for its handling of PFAS in the food supply, with accusations that it altered testing methods to underreport levels of these chemicals.
The study suggests multiple contamination sources for these foods. In rice, contamination likely comes from the soil or water used in agriculture.
For eggs, especially those from backyard chickens, contamination could stem from PFAS in household scraps or sewage sludge used as fertilizer.
In coffee, the risk may come from the beans themselves, the water used in brewing or even PFAS-treated coffee filters and paper cups.
Seafood is frequently contaminated due to the prevalence of water pollution. As the chemicals accumulate in the environment, they inevitably enter the food chain.
To mitigate exposure, Romano advises a diverse diet rich in fruits, whole grains and dietary fiber, which was linked to lower PFAS levels.
“That helps you not only reduce your exposure to PFAS but other contaminants we might anticipate are in food,” Romano explained.
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