Thyroid cancer: Which substances should be avoided

Guilty of developing endocrine disorders, including it, was found to be exposure to a group of chemicals widely used in people’s everyday life. These are PFAS, which include more than 4,700 substances, which are used in many consumer products, such as anti-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, cleaners, sprays, colors, cosmetics and others. Over time they accumulate in both the body and the environment (ground, water, air) and do not decompose quickly. For example, the half-life of PFOS and PFOA (two of these substances) in water is 41 and 92 years, respectively, while in humans it is 3 – 7 years, which means they can have a large and cumulative harmful effect on the body. Scientists draw attention, as these substances are almost everywhere and today it is almost impossible to avoid them. They stress the need to take measures to limit them, but also to control the thyroid function of people with a history of high exposure to PFAS. “thyroid cancer has been rising in recent decades, which cannot only be justified by the evolution of diagnostic methods that enable cancer to be found in the gland at a very early stage. The available data advocate the existence of other reasons why the incidents have increased. Clearly, increasing obesity that plagues modern humans is a key reason, since it is a risk factor, as is smoking. But these factors can also be attributed to the increase in thyroid cancer rates, as this is also seen in teenagers / young adults”, notes Professor of Surgery of the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Director of Surgery Clinic in the Health Group, Mr.Dimitris Linos. ‘The investigation into the causes of thyroid cancer and the factors that could be controlled to stop the increase in cases has found that these substances (PFAS) can cause damage to the body. International organizations, academies and institutions recognised that exposure to them is dangerous to health, and some were described as potentially carcinogenic. For thyroid it is already known that PFAS disrupt its normal function and can cause hypothyroidism. Recently they were also associated with gland cancer”, it complements. Scientists of Mount Sinai received data from 88 subjects with thyroid cancer from which a plasma sample had been collected prior to diagnosis. Their average age was 46 years and 83% of them women. The control group was an equal number of cancer-free adults in the gland, who matched patients in terms of gender, age, race and ethnicity, Body Mass Index and the use of tobacco products. Researchers examined whether there is a relationship between plasma PFAS levels and thyroid cancer diagnosis. They chose to include 8 types of PFAS in their analysis. According to their findings, published on eBioMedicine, exposure to these chemicals may increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. The results showed that exposure to n-PFOS, a group of chemicals belonging to the PFAS umbrella, led to 56% increased risk of thyroid cancer diagnosis. The results of a second analysis in 31 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer one year later, to take into account the time interval between exposure to chemicals and the occurrence of the disease, remained the same as with these substances, but in addition there was a positive correlation with other PFAS. Overall, n-PFOS, Sb-PFOS, PFNA, PFOPA and n-PFHxS were associated with thyroid cancer. This study demonstrates the need to raise awareness about the negative effects of PFAS (known as ‘chemical forever’) and to remove them from industry, since its effects can explain, in part, the increase in thyroid cancer rates. However, larger studies should be carried out to investigate the mechanisms by which exposure to PFAS may increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Today it is suspected that mechanisms leading to cancer development are changes caused by genes and hormonal/metabolic pathways, the body’s defense ability and oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation. “PFAS exposure seems to help increase thyroid cancer rates and the worrying thing is that children, who are not subject to regular gland controls, unless they have growth risk factors – as most adults do. But the delayed diagnosis reduces the chances of full healing, despite the new drugs and highly advanced surgical methods we have, such as non-introspective, minimally invasive MINET. So if someone finds an ozo in the thyroid or enlarged lymph nodes in his throat, he should immediately consult an expert. If cancer is diagnosed it is extremely important to address an experienced surgeon, as thyroid surgery is delicate and requires skill and experience,” notes the former President of the International Society of Endocrine Surgeons Professor Mr. Linos and concludes: “The sure thing is that contact with these chemicals cannot be completely avoided. In the European Union the construction and use of some PFAS has already been restricted, while others are under assessment. In the few things anyone interested in protecting their health can do is choose conscious products without PFAS.”