Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are man-made chemicals probably used in a variety of household products such as food containers, clothing, furniture, carpets and paints. Experts now suggest that higher levels of PFCs in the body elevate the odds of experiencing menopause between 42 and 64 years in women. High levels of PFCs in women of this age group may also result in significantly lower concentrations of estrogen.
As a part of the study, investigators ascertained menopausal status of 25,957 women aged 18 to 65 years. Serum concentration levels of PFCs and estradiol were thoroughly evaluated. As a result, a seeming link between PFC exposure, decreased estradiol and early menopause in women over age 42 was registered. Also an inverse association between PFC levels and estradiol in women of child bearing age appeared, but was not statistically significant.
“The current study is the largest ever to be done on the endocrine-disrupting effects of perfluorocarbons in human women. Our data shows that after controlling for age, women of perimenopausal and menopausal age in this large population are more likely to have experienced menopause if they have higher serum concentrations of PFCs than their counterparts with lower levels,†quoted Sarah Knox, PhD, of the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown and lead author of the study.
It was asserted that exposure to PFCs is associated with the onset of menopause. Scientists conclude that PFCs cause endocrine disruption in women. The study findings apparently have important implications in the medical world.
The study is published in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).