U.S. Airmen participate in a fire protection training course at Tyndall Air Force Base, the Air Force’s only site authorized to train with jet fuel and firefighting foam containing carcinogenic elements in a fully contained fire pit, 2021. (Photo: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tiffany Price)
Younger U.S. Veterans have higher levels of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in their blood than civilians of the same age, according to a new study from researchers at Brown University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The study, published Sept. 14 in Environmental Health Perspectives, analyzed federal health data collected between 2003 and 2018. Researchers found Veterans ages 20 to 39 had PFAS concentrations between 13% and 24% higher than non-Veterans in the same age group, depending on the chemical measured.
Younger Veterans were also 18% more likely than civilians their age to have combined PFAS levels above 20 nanograms per milliliter. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends medical follow-up for people above that threshold.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals typically used in products designed to resist heat, water, oil, and stains.
For Service Members, exposure may have occurred through firefighting foam used around aircraft, fuel, and military installations. The Department of War has identified 723 locations where PFAS may have been released or used.
Researchers could not determine the exact source of the higher levels found in younger Veterans. Military materials, firefighting chemicals, and contaminated water were among the possible exposure routes considered. The study found a link between Veteran status and higher PFAS levels, but it did not explicitly establish military service as the cause.
The study included 1,552 Veteran participants from eight cycles of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After national survey weights were applied, the group represented an estimated 22.8 million U.S. adults over age 20.
Lead author Christian Hoover said younger Veterans, particularly men ages 20 to 39, should consider talking with a health care provider about PFAS testing and whether additional screening may be appropriate.
PFAS are slow to break down and can remain in the environment and the body for long periods, even decades. Research has linked certain PFAS to higher cholesterol, immune system changes, liver and thyroid problems, reproductive concerns, asthma, and increased risks of kidney and testicular cancers.
The VA says more research is needed and the overall scientific and medical evidence remains inconclusive. The department is also reviewing evidence involving PFAS exposure and kidney cancer as part of the PACT Act process for determining whether a new presumptive service connection should be established. It does not currently recognize a PFAS-specific presumptive condition.
Veterans who believe an illness is connected to exposure during military service can still file a disability claim, which VA reviews individually. An accredited Veterans Service Officer can help Veterans and family members through the claims process.
PFAS blood testing is not currently available through VA medical centers, but the VA says it is reevaluating testing as new research becomes available. Veterans concerned about possible exposure can speak with a health care provider or contact a VA Environmental Health Coordinator.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
