CDC Investigates Whether COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Is Decreased by PFAS Exposure
A letter addressed to
Michigan State Representative Dan Kildee from Dr. Robert Redfield, director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated the CDC’s Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is “assessing the intersection
between PFAS exposure and
COVID-19” by investigating whether exposure to these “forever chemicals”
affects potential effectiveness and duration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Healthcare workers and first responders are first under the CDC
study. ATSDR will measure PFAS levels in participants to determine a link
between PFAS in their blood and the likelihood of contracting COVID-19. The
connection of PFAS levels and antibody response to the coronavirus will give
insight into the impact of PFAS levels and the potential duration of vaccine
protection.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl fluorinated substances called PFAS are dubbed
“Forever Chemicals” due to the chemical bonds that hold the compounds together
(about 5,000 substances) which never break down in the environment. For many
reasons (including factory and facility discharge), PFAS have been found in
drinking water throughout the United States. Over 1,400 communities in 49
states have detected PFAS in their drinking water, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). This equates to roughly
110 million Americans drinking
PFAS-contaminated water. PFAS can be found everywhere; they are in hundreds of products
such as food-delivery containers and papers, nonstick cookware, stain-resistant
clothing, carpets, furniture, fireproof items, clothes, cosmetics, personal
care products, and so much more. Tiny doses of PFAS are linked to cancer,
reproductive and immune system damage, weight gain, and a plethora of other
diseases. It is estimated that PFAS are found in the blood of 99.9 percent of
all human beings on earth, including newborn babies.
Some populations are at risk of being exposed to higher levels of
PFAS than others, such as firefighters, military personnel, and communities
with PFAS-contaminated drinking water or factories nearby. According to an analysis by the EWG, every
organ is affected by PFAS exposure, but the immune system is especially
vulnerable. Studies have shown a weaker response to tetanus and diphtheria
vaccinations in adults.
Dr. Philippe Grandjean led the study on PFAS exposure and its
relation to a diminished response to tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations.
Recently, an article he wrote in
The Guardian expressed fears regarding the possibility for people with high
levels of PFAS to experience similar reactions to a COVID-19 vaccine. Grandjean
said, “People with high exposure to PFAS have non-protective and very low
antibody levels after four vaccinations for diptheria and tetanus. So if a
vaccine for COVID-19 is similar, the PFAS will likely inhibit the response from
a vaccine. But it is unknown at this stage.”
To learn more, read the full report from EWG.
For an in-depth chemical analysis of your drinking water or to purchase a
filter, contact the experts at Reynolds Water today.
Reynolds
Water Conditioning was established in 1931 and is Michigan’s oldest water
conditioning treatment company. Still owned and operated by the Reynolds
family, we take pride in providing the highest quality products at a
cost-effective price. If your tap water lacks the quality you deserve, contact
us today at www.reynoldswater.com or call 800-572-9575.
Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs &
Systems: www.cpsmi.com.
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