New research aimed at identifying foods with higher levels of PFAS has found that individuals consuming more white rice, coffee, eggs, and seafood tend to have increased levels of these toxic chemicals in their plasma and breast milk. The study analyzed samples from 3,000 pregnant women and is among the first to suggest that coffee and white rice may be more heavily contaminated than other foods. It also identified a link between red meat consumption and elevated levels of PFOS, one of the most common and hazardous PFAS compounds. Often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment and their tendency to accumulate in the human body, PFAS have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, birth defects, liver disease, thyroid disease, and reduced sperm counts. Despite regulatory efforts primarily focusing on reducing water pollution, food remains a significant exposure route. Critics argue that the FDA's testing methods obscure the presence of PFAS in food, despite dangerous levels. The study suggests that contamination in rice may originate from polluted soil or agricultural water, while coffee contamination could come from beans, brewing water, or the soil, with previous studies identifying PFAS in coffee filters and packaging.
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