Jerwen Kiev Del Cano

Sometimes, you really never know what comes inside your body. With the rampant consumption of industrial and consumer products that harbor various chemicals, our system often comes into contact with substances that could be detrimental — in this context, the body’s forever dangerous chemicals. 

Photo Courtesy of Popular Mechanics.

PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as your “forever chemicals.” They possess resistant properties added to some products, but pose grave threats to the human body and environment. 

However, a study by the researchers from the University of Cambridge published in Nature Microbiology on June 1 revealed a family of bacteria exists in the human gut — surprisingly, these species absorb PFAS molecules more naturally than ever. 

The study titled “Human gut bacteria bioaccumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances” discussed how PFAS are those that are added to cleaning products, nonstick cookware, clothes, and foams to make them heatproof, greaseproof, or waterproof.

However, these substances are among those that pose continual threats to communities once they reach areas and items that can eventually and indirectly lead to the human body, running from waterways and agricultural systems to the food that we consume.

Once taken in, it causes a range of serious health complications — such as the risk of cancer and other diseases, growth and developmental defects, and decreased fertility and immunity.

Researchers, however, uncovered a family of bacteria that naturally inhabit the human stomach. These 9 species of bacteria show a unique capacity to absorb PFAS over 50 times more than their surroundings, storing them inside their cell. 

These suggest the outstanding adaptability of these bacteria and how they can withstand the harmful toxicity of the chemicals.

Notable findings indicate despite ingesting the toxic PFAS, these bacteria continue to grow and survive. 

Advanced imaging of the observed phenomenon shows that the PFAS clump together inside the cell in clusters, which likely keeps them from interfering with the bacteria's normal functions.

Furthermore, tests in mice were also done, supporting the actual buildup of PFAS in gut bacteria inside the body and not just in the lab. 

Nonetheless, these tests only used a single exposure, while most people are exposed to small amounts of PFAS over a long time. 

With that, it is recommended that future studies should monitor people over time, tracking the trends of PFAS in the body and studying the gut microbiome to better understand the long-term effects. 

Scientists also advise people to remain vigilant by using effective water filters and minimizing the use of products and cookware coated with PFAS, all while new probiotics may still take time to become readily available to the public.

Until then, such discovery reminds us to follow our gut — forever chemicals may just meet their end sooner than we imagined.