Read more at The Independent

Here is a summary of the article:

• New research suggests that common “forever chemicals” (PFAS), found in everyday items like non-stick cookware and food packaging, could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• The study, published by researchers at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, analyzed health records and blood samples from 360 people in New York.
• It found that individuals with higher levels of PFAS in their blood were up to 31% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
• PFAS are human-made chemicals used since the 1940s, known as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down and accumulate in the environment and human bodies.
• The chemicals appear to interfere with amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism, processes crucial for blood sugar regulation.
• This research adds to a growing body of evidence linking PFAS to various chronic diseases, including obesity, liver disease, and other health problems like cancers, reproductive harm, and immune system suppression.
• A long-term U.S. government study previously found that 98% of Americans have some level of PFAS in their blood, highlighting their widespread presence.
• The Mount Sinai study is among the first to explore how PFAS may disrupt metabolic pathways in diverse, urban populations.
• The findings underscore the need to consider environmental exposure, beyond genetics and lifestyle, in type 2 diabetes prevention.
• The research comes amid global discussions on limiting PFAS, with many countries already implementing their own restrictions.