PFCs Harmful to Children’s Immune Systems?

PFCs – or perfluorinated compounds – could be a more serious threat than previously thought. While studies have not turned up serious effects in humans, a new report is showing children who have more exposure to these compounds have weaker immune systems.

PFCs are found in food packaging, textiles and other common sources. They don’t break down as easily as other compounds, and so are found in larger doses in the environment. The EPA says they have been found to cause reproductive and developmental issues in lab animals, but have not been shown to have the same effects or any others on humans.

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says this may not be entirely true. The study encompassed almost 600 children from the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, and followed them from birth to age seven. The levels of PFCs in the children’s blood was tested, and it was found that those with higher levels of PFCs were not as responsive to vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria.

In many cases, the children with higher PFC levels also had lower levels of antibodies that help fight off infections.

There are some holes turning up in this study, however. Dr. Anthony Dayan, an independent toxicologist, says the study failed to consider factors like consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in oily fish like mackerel and tuna), which can also cause immune system suppression.

At the very least, though, this study is shedding light on an important health issue that will hopefully get more attention in the future.

Until then, the leader of the study, Dr. Phillipe Grandjean of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, says you may want to avoid microwaved popcorn and any clothing or carpets treated with stain repellants.

Know of any other PFC-ridden foods or accessories? Let us know in the SureBaby comments!