Exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) may reduce women’s fertility
29 January 2009Researchers have found the first evidence that perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – chemicals that are widely used in everyday items such as food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products – may be associated with infertility in women. The study published online in Europe’s leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction found that women who had higher levels of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in their blood took longer to become pregnant than women with lower levels.
From the paper Maternal levels of perfluorinatedchemicals and subfecundity Chunyuan Fei, Joseph K. McLaughlin, Loren Lipworth,and Jørn Olsen
Published in Human Reproduction, Advanced Access, January 29th 2009
Read the press release online
In the news
- BBC - Chemicals 'may reduce fertility'
- The Times - Food packaging chemicals link with reduced fertility