Many US military veterans have significantly higher levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” in their blood than non-veterans, according to new peer-reviewed research. The study, led by Brown University, is the first to compare PFAS levels in veterans' blood with those in civilians.
The analysis of federal health data found this issue to be concentrated among younger veterans. It estimated that 23 million veterans aged 20–39 have PFAS blood levels between 13% and 24% higher than non-veterans, depending on the specific compound.
Younger veterans were also 18% more likely than young non-veterans to exceed the threshold at which experts recommend medical monitoring. Approximately 13 million, or 58%, of all veterans in this age group are above this threshold, which is set by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
PFAS are a class of at least 16,000 compounds that do not naturally break down and accumulate in the environment. They are linked to health problems such as cancer, kidney disease, liver problems, immune disorders, and birth defects. These chemicals have been used in firefighting foam at military bases, leading to high levels of pollution in surrounding ground water, surface water, and soil.