Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, epigenetic age and DNA methylation: a cross-sectional study of firefighters
https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/full/10.2217/epi-2021-0225
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, epigenetic age and DNA methylation: a cross-sectional study of firefighters
Jaclyn M Goodrich Miriam M Calkins Alberto J Caban-Martinez Todd Stueckle Casey Grant Antonia M Calafat Amy Nematollahi Alesia M Jung Judith M Graber Timothy Jenkins Angela L Slitt Alisa Dewald Julianne Cook Botelho Shawn Beitel Sally Littau John Gulotta Darin Wallentine Jeff Hughes Charles Popp & Jefferey L Burgess
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Published Online: 21 Oct 2021 https://doi.org/10.2217/epi-2021-0225
Hi Diane,
I heard you are interested in having a few more details. Here is a summary of the study and what we think it means — please let me know if you’d like more information:
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Firefighters are at increased risk for multiple cancers. Individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposures are linked to many different health outcomes including cancer, and firefighters encounter PFAS both on the job and in their daily lives. However, the health effects of mixed PFAS exposures in firefighters are not yet known, and furthermore the toxic mechanisms by which PFAS act have not been fully determined. Epigenetics, including DNA methylation, is one biological process that controls whether genes are turned on or off. Importantly, DNA methylation can change due to hazardous exposures, and widespread changes to DNA methylation are part of the development of cancers. Because of this, DNA methylation has the potential to serve as a marker of the impact of exposures and a predictor of risk long before the onset of disease.
We conducted a study looking at the impact of PFAS on DNA methylation in firefighters that was published in the scientific journal, Epigenomics. The study measured PFAS levels and epigenetic marks (DNA methylation) in samples from 197 structural firefighters. Concentrations of nine PFAS were measured in the firefighters’ serum. A range of PFAS levels were observed, and it is unknown if they reflect exposure from AFFF or other occupational exposures, the surrounding environment, or both.
We reported links between higher PFAS levels with epigenetic markers. PFAS was associated with accelerated epigenetic age. Epigenetic age is representative of an individual’s biological age. We know from other research that epigenetic age is often accelerated compared to chronological age in individuals with cardiovascular disease, cancers, and other diseases. We also reported links between PFAS with DNA methylation of specific genes. The genes have functions related to cancer, the immune system, and more.
Broadly, this study shows that PFAS may change epigenetic markers. Since epigenetic age and DNA methylation of key genes are known to contribute to disease development, these could be biological processes leading to PFAS toxicity and disease. More needs to be done before we completely understand the implications of these findings. It is unknown from this study whether PFAS from AFFF, the environment, or both contributed to this link, and whether changes were large enough to lead to cancer or other diseases in these individuals later in life. We will continue this line of research in an effort to inform prevention and intervention strategies to protect health.
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Jackie Goodrich, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Phone: 734–647–4564
pronouns: she/her