Study links two ‘forever chemicals’ to faster biological aging, with men most affected

For decades, so-called “forever chemicals” have been part of everyday life, woven into products designed to resist heat, grease, water, and fire. Now, new research suggests that some of these chemicals may come with an unexpected cost.

A recent study has found a troubling link between two specific PFAS compounds and faster biological aging, particularly in middle-aged men. While the findings stop short of proving cause and effect, they raise fresh concerns about long-term exposure.

Researchers say the results highlight the urgent need to understand how these widely used substances affect human health over time. The findings were published in Frontiers in Aging, as per a report by Science Alert.



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What are ‘forever chemicals’ and why do they matter?

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large group of synthetic chemicals developed in the 1940s and 1950s. Found in raincoats, non-stick pans, food packaging, upholstery, and firefighting foams, they were engineered for durability, as per a report by Science Alert.

That durability, however, is part of the problem. Built around a strong carbon-fluorine backbone, PFAS can take up to a thousand years to break down. Scientists have increasingly linked them to adverse health outcomes, and exposure is believed to be widespread.

Although international policies restrict a handful of older “legacy” PFAS linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease, more than 12,000 variants remain in use. Many of these alternatives have not been thoroughly studied.

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Which chemicals are linked to faster aging?

The new study, led by researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, focused on two PFAS compounds: PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid) and PFOSA (perfluorooctanesulfonamide), the latter a precursor of PFOA.

Using public data from 326 older adults who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000, the team analyzed blood samples that had been screened for 11 types of PFAS.

They also estimated participants’ biological age using 12 recently developed “epigenetic clocks,” which measure DNA methylation rather than telomere length, as per a report by Science Alert.

PFNA and PFOSA were detected in about 95 percent of participants. In men aged 50 to 64, higher PFNA levels strongly predicted faster epigenetic aging by some measures. The same pattern did not appear in women, though researchers say it remains unclear why.

"These findings suggest that some newer PFAS alternatives are not necessarily low-risk replacements and warrant serious attention regarding their environmental impact," epidemiologist Xiangwei Li says.

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Can exposure be reduced?

While further research is needed, the study’s authors suggest practical steps individuals can take.

"To reduce risk, individuals can try to limit their consumption of packaged foods and avoid microwaving fast-food containers," Li suggests. "Looking ahead, we are actively modeling how PFAS interacts with other common pollutants, as we need to understand the cumulative health risks of these chemical mixtures," as per a report by Science Alert.

Why are middle-aged men more affected?

The results showed that sex and age seemed to matter. While PFAS levels were not significantly different between men and women or across age groups, only middle-aged men showed a strong association between PFNA and accelerated biological aging.

"We suspect that men may be at higher risk because the aging markers we analyzed are heavily influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can compound the damaging effects of these pollutants," Li suggests.

Exposure to PFOSA was also linked to different biomarkers of aging, as per a report by Science Alert.

"Midlife is a sensitive biological window where the body becomes more susceptible to age-related stressors, which may explain why this group responds more strongly to chemical exposure," epidemiologist Ya-Qian Xu says.

Still, researchers caution that the study only shows an association. It cannot prove that PFNA or PFOSA directly cause accelerated aging. Other unknown factors could influence both exposure levels and biological aging rates.

No similar links were found between biological age and the other PFAS types examined in the study, suggesting something specific may be happening with PFNA and PFOSA in this demographic.

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FAQs

What did the study find about PFAS and aging?
It found that higher levels of PFNA, and to a lesser extent PFOSA, were linked to faster biological aging in men aged 50 to 64.

Does this mean PFAS directly cause faster aging?
No. The study shows an association, not direct proof of cause and effect. More research is needed.