Makeup, fragrance and hair dye use in pregnancy leads to more PFAS in breast milk

Question

‘Forever chemicals’ pose health threat to developing children and linked with preterm birth, shorter lactation

Answer 1

After further review and investigation in this claim, I believe it to be true. The main concern in these products is PFA's, polyfluoroalkyl substances, a chemical put into many self-care products such as makeup, hair products, nail polish, etc. They are utilized due to their ability to retain oil, water, and heat. 

A study at Brown University proves that PFA's are associated with a wide variety of health defects. They have shown to be associated with liver disease, cardiometabolic disease, cardiovascular issues, as well as various cancers. I am an avid user of beauty products, and learning about the dangers of PFA's has really changed my perspective on them. This is especially concerning to pregnancy cause although we only use them externally, they cause issues internally. PFA's have shown to contribute to adverse birth outcomes such as some neurodevelopmental disorders, preterm birth, decreased birth weight, and diminished vaccine response in children.

Tom Perkins reported in the Guardian about a previous research project regarding PFA's. During this process, scientists recorded 30,000 umbilical chords taken from all over the globe during a five-year period. During this project, researches found in the United States 50 samples of breast milk were found to contain very alarming levels of the chemicals. This may be a small amount compared to the study, but nonetheless the odds are not zero. 

Initially, I did not find this claim to be true. However multiple reputable sources have informed me of the dangers of PFAS and how truly damaging they can be during and after pregnancy. Due to an existence of statistics on this claim, it is true.

Answer 2

I believe this claim is true based on the extensively co-authored and peer-reviewed scientific study from which the Guardian article drew its information. According to the Science Direct article wherein the study is publicly posted, one of the key takeaways was that "hair treatment at delivery was associated with higher postpartum PFAS in human milk." The Guardian article accurately portrays this scientific finding in addition to providing readers with context and additional details. The author of the article, Tom Perkins, is credited with several articles on The Guardian's website and, according to the Pulitzer Center, is a freelance reporter who has contributed to various publications. Due to the existence of a scientific study on the topic, as well as the professional legitimacy of the article's author, we can conclude that this claim is true.

Comments

This is a very in-depth answer and both of your sources seem trustworthy. Your direct quote helped boost the evidence involved in your claim and gave context. Going into research about the article's author to test for legitimacy also adds credibility to your claim.

Answer 3

I believe this claim to be true. This claim is supported by growing scientific evidence linking these chemicals to adverse health outcomes. PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," are persistent in the environment and the human body, accumulating over time. Recent research indicates that many personal care products, including cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos, contain PFAS compounds that can be absorbed through the skin or ingested. Pregnant and nursing women are particularly vulnerable to these chemicals due to the biological processes of absorption, metabolism, and the transfer of substances to the developing fetus or infant through the placenta and breast milk. EWG has conducted extensive research on PFAS chemicals and their presence in consumer products, including personal care items. Their findings often highlight how these chemicals accumulate in the body and can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can refer to their reports and databases, such as their "EWG Skin Deep" database, which identifies the presence of PFAS in personal care products. NIEHS has funded numerous studies on PFAS exposure and its impact on health, including the potential effects on pregnant and nursing women. Their research explores how PFAS can transfer from mothers to their babies through breast milk and the placenta.

Comments

That is interesting! I tried to find some of the studies but I also found an article published by the FDA saying that there is limited research that is not substantial enough to prove toxicity. Hope this helps. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-cosmetics

Answer 4

In an article from The Guardian on PFAs  and their harm to pregnancies the claim “Makeup, fragrance and hair dye use in pregnancy leads to more PFAS in breast milk,” is stated. After further research I found this claim to be true and not exaggerated. The article references a study done by Brown University that reached this conclusion. Therefore after finding the same cited statistics on Brown University’s website, I found no misconceptions. It is evident that, “PFAS have been associated with a range of adverse health effects, including liver disease, cardiometabolic and cardiovascular issues, and various cancers” (Pikul 1). Until recently it has been unknown how these synthetic chemicals make their way into bloodstream and breast milk so easily, but with varied effects person to person. The research discovered that the quantity of products used with PFAs in them has a direct correlation to higher levels of PFA in breastmilk. These statistics correlated across different articles and all fell back on the same research project. Therefore I find this article to be trustworthy. The article stresses the danger of PFAs in products. This warning is not exaggerated after researching in the National Institute of Environmental Sciences, who made it clear, “Because the carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest, these chemicals do not degrade easily in the environment” (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 1). The article does a good job of presenting the dangers and how they come about. 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/23/personal-care-products-pfas-pregnancy

https://www.brown.edu/news/2024-11-11/personal-care-pfas

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc 

Comments

Thanks for giving the background scientific information on this. Knowing the reasoning behind this claim helps spread knowledge and awareness of the potential dangers of PFAs.

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I think all the information you provided was really thorough and addressed multiple aspects that needed to be touched on. Becoming aware of all the reasoning that creates such a claim is really helpful in order to not spread false information about PFAs. Good job providing 3 different credible sources as well.