Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as persistent pollutants with metabolic and endocrine-disrupting impacts.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search or meta-analytic synthesis
PubMed 39181731 · doi:10.1016/j.tem.2024.07.021
What was done
Narrative review synthesizing evidence on the endocrine-disrupting and metabolic consequences of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure, focusing on thyroid function, male and female fertility, and cardiometabolic outcomes across life stages.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative values, effect sizes, or sample sizes. Qualitatively, it reports that PFAS exposure disrupts thyroid function during pregnancy with potential consequences for newborn cognitive development, exerts male and female reproductive toxicity (analog substitutes impair sperm parameters while legacy compounds correlate with endometriosis), and links to metabolic disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and liver toxicity, particularly in early childhood.
Why it matters
It outlines the broad spectrum of endocrine and metabolic vulnerabilities linked to both legacy and replacement PFAS molecules, highlighting the public health challenge posed by persistent, multi-chemical exposures.
Limits
No quantitative findings, search criteria, or synthesis methods are detailed in the abstract. As a narrative review, it provides no systematic risk-of-bias assessment or formal pooling of evidence.
Cited by
- supports PFAS chemicals are linked to serious health issues including hormone disruption, gut microbiome disruption, and fertility issues.
- supports PFAS exposure is linked to major health issues including endocrine disruption, gut microbiome disruption, and fertility impairment.