Household chemicals and packaging accelerate aging in men

To assess the rate of aging, scientists used data from 326 people, comparing the concentration of 11 types of PFAS in their blood with the indicators of the “epigenetic clock”. It turned out that a high concentration of certain compounds is a powerful predictor of accelerated biological aging in middle-aged men. No similar relationship was found in women, indicating gender differences in susceptibility to the toxic effects of these pollutants.

The special vulnerability of men over the age of 50 is explained by the fact that this period of life is a sensitive biological window when the body becomes more susceptible to external stresses. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, which enhances the damaging effects of pollutants, can also be superimposed on the negative effect of chemicals. At the same time, the total concentration of harmful substances in the blood of the participants did not depend on gender, which confirms precisely the different reaction of the body’s systems to the same doses.

PFNA and PFOSA compounds are actively used in industry to protect materials from grease, moisture and corrosion. Despite the fact that some “old” PFAS are already banned by international conventions, new substances continue to enter the market and are found in the blood of 95% of the people surveyed. The results of the scientific work emphasize the need to tighten control over all representatives of this class of substances, and not just over the most well-known representatives.

As a precautionary measure, experts recommend limiting the consumption of packaged foods and avoiding heating fast food containers in microwave ovens. Such simple actions reduce the risk of toxic particles getting into food. Further research will focus on how these chemicals interact with other common environmental pollutants.

Understanding the mechanisms of the influence of chemicals on DNA allows us to take a fresh look at the causes of early aging and the development of age-related pathologies. The work of scientists confirms that environmental safety is a key factor in maintaining health in adulthood.