Study finds US military veterans carry higher levels of Pfas 'forever chemicals' in blood than civilians

A new peer-reviewed study has found that many US military veterans have significantly higher levels of Pfas "forever chemicals" in their blood compared with non-veterans, according to The Guardian, which reported on the research.

The findings raise additional questions about the health risks facing former service members who served at military installations where these chemicals were used, the report said.

Pfas, a class of synthetic chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and the human body, have been widely used in firefighting foam deployed during training exercises and emergency responses at military bases. According to the report, groundwater, surface water and soil surrounding these installations show among the highest levels of Pfas contamination recorded in the United States.

While concerns about Pfas contamination at military sites have been documented for more than a decade, the study — led by researchers at Brown University — is described as the first to directly compare Pfas levels found in veterans' blood with those found in civilians, according to The Guardian.

The chemicals are commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body, and have been linked in various studies to a range of health concerns.

The Guardian reported that the research adds to a growing body of evidence pointing to elevated exposure risks among those who served at bases with known Pfas contamination from firefighting foam use.