How bad is the disease explosion in young people because of the chemicals in your tap water?

A study cautions that “forever chemicals” present in shampoo, food wrappers, and tap water could be the cause of the surge in illnesses among young people.

The microbiome—the delicate protective balance of bacteria in the gut—is harmed by these toxic substances, according to recent research.

The gut bacteria that prevent inflammation, which has been connected to diseases like colon cancer, were found to be less prevalent in people with higher levels of these chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Apart from analyzing the microbiome, the researchers also assessed the kidneys’ health years later and discovered that the chemicals may have contributed to a 50 percent decline in kidney function over a four-year period.

Since the 1940s, products have been made to be stain, grease, and water resistant using PFAS, also known as forever chemicals because they don’t decompose in our bodies or the environment.

However, there is mounting evidence that the chemicals are linked to immune system issues, pregnancy complications, and cancers of the kidneys and testicles.

As the number of people under 55 who have been diagnosed with colon cancer has nearly doubled over the last 25 years, researchers elsewhere are looking to the gut as one of the possible causes of the rise in the disease’s incidence in young people.

To determine the PFAS levels in your local water supply, enter your zip code in the search bar below.

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But according to a 2024 study, over 70 million Americans might reside in homes where the drinking water is tainted with PFAS.

Public drinking water systems must begin testing and limiting their water for PFAS by 2025, according to a law that the EPA created this year.

According to the CDC, in addition to water, consuming food produced close to PFAS factories, consuming fish that has been in PFAS-contaminated water, or inhaling contaminated dust or soil can expose a person to persistent chemicals.

According to the EPA, prolonged exposure to PFAS can cause developmental delays in children, reduced fertility in women, disruption of the body’s hormone balance, and an increased risk of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer.

According to experts like Professor Jesse Goodrich, kidney damage is one of the most commonly acknowledged adverse effects of PFAS exposure.

Professor Goodrich is attempting to provide an explanation for this, as his research was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

“It’s a really important question because these metabolic diseases come with a higher risk of diabetic or chronic kidney diseases, which is one of the fastest-growing causes of mortality in the US,” Professor Goodrich of the University of Southern California told The Guardian. “…

His study included 78 residents of the USC area, with an average age of 20, who did not have any pre-existing conditions that could affect their gut, such as infections, diabetes, or obesity.

In 2014, they obtained blood and stool samples to assess their PFAS levels and baseline gut health. A PFAS burden score, which was created to calculate exposure to chemical mixtures, was assigned to each individual.

Then, in 2018, they collected samples once more to assess kidney function. According to the study authors, those with higher blood levels of PFAS also had lower levels of a bacterium called Lachnospiraceae, which has been demonstrated in earlier research to lower inflammation and prevent kidney disease.

They discovered that those with greater PFAS concentrations tended to have worse kidney function in the years that followed. About 2–4% less kidney function was present for every increase in their PFAS burden score.

These cities are only a few of the many that have been found to have higher levels of PFAS in their private wells and public water supply.

The production of water, stain, and grease-resistant products can result in waste runoff that contains PFAS in drinking water. In order to mandate that public utilities start treating water for these chemicals by 2025, the EPA took action.

According to the Mayo Clinic, compromised kidney function can result in chronic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys gradually stop filtering waste from the blood, creating a hazardous accumulation of toxic fluid that can cause major organ systems to shut down.

Although the exact mechanism by which PFAS cause kidney damage is unknown, Professor Goodrich stated that it seems likely to be related to the disruption of gut function.

As is already known, the gut bacteria appear to have a role in controlling the inflammation of the kidneys and produce chemicals that can either tax or support the kidneys.

Professor Goodrich warned about the limitations of their study, stating that it was hard to determine whether the results would hold true for a larger population because of the small sample size.

However, this is not the only study looking into how PFAS affect body processes.

According to Northeastern University research, the chemicals have also been demonstrated to weaken the immune system, which makes it more difficult for your body to fight off infections. This could have an impact on numerous bodily systems.

A Yale School of Public Health study from 2023 discovered that two PFAS chemicals accelerated the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells. This can result in a more lethal form of the disease and implies that exposure to these chemicals may trigger the development of colon cancer.

According to Jie Zheng, an epidemiologist at Yale, studies on firefighters who are exposed to burning PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam have revealed that they have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

It has also been proposed that external factors, such as chemical exposure, may be responsible for up to 80% of colorectal cancer cases.