{"id":7479,"date":"2026-02-28T14:01:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T14:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=7479"},"modified":"2026-02-28T14:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T14:01:35","slug":"two-common-chemicals-that-are-aging-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=7479","title":{"rendered":"Two common chemicals that are aging you"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Even the best anti-aging creams can\u2019t compete with \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smile lines and crow\u2019s feet give away our age on the outside, but on the inside, certain synthetic compounds found in many household items may be wreaking havoc on our tissues, accelerating our biological age in ways we might not be able to see in the mirror.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s one demographic \u2014 middle-aged men \u2014 that appears to be the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"38623072\"><br \/>\n\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<figcaption>A recent study linked PFAS exposure to premature epigenetic aging in men between the ages of 50 and 64. <span class=\"credit\">Monkey Business \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/aging\/articles\/10.3389\/fragi.2025.1722675\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">new study<\/a> out of Shanghai is linking the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals, to a host of warning signs for premature epigenetic aging that showed up most prominently in men between the ages of 50 and 64.<\/p>\n<p>While there are thousands of PFAS chemicals that we know of, the study looked at the effects of just two \u2014 PFNA and PFOSA \u2014 and found \u201cmortality-related aging markers in males and middle-aged individuals\u201d as well as \u201clipid metabolism-related aging measures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The researchers, led by epidemiologist Xiangwei Li, found an association between the chemical exposure and our bodies\u2019 inhibited ability to regulate inflammation, repair DNA and metabolize protein. They found evidence of greater \u201ccellular senescence,\u201d or the halting of cell division, too.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The report also cited findings of other recent studies examining how PFAS-related inflammation can lead to tissue injury and other disturbing imbalances like systemic metabolic decline, muscle dysfunction and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/25\/health\/what-is-mitochondrial-dysfunction-dr-casey-means-says-its-the-root-of-chronic-illness\/\">mitochondrial dysfunction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Li and his team looked at the publicly available blood samples of 326 older men and women who had enrolled in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1999 through 2000.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While PFNA and PFOSA chemicals were present in almost 95% of the participants, Li and his team noted that high amounts of PFNA in males age 50 to 64 indicated faster epigenetic aging than in women of the same age who also had high PFNA levels \u2014\u00a0though it\u2019s unclear why. (Li has said it might have to do with \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/1115823\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lifestyle factors such as smoking<\/a>,\u201d though that hardly explains the gender divide.)<\/p>\n<p>PFAS were first developed in the 1940s, as a water-, grease- and heat-resistant property that was introduced to consumers a decade later. Today, we have PFAS to thank for the durability of everyday items like raincoats, non-stick pans, upholstery and food packaging.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"38623076\"><br \/>\n\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"38623076\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Packaged red, orange, and green bell peppers in supermarket crates.\" class=\"wp-image-38623076\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=260,174&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=246,164&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=234,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=195,130&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=180,120&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=171,114&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=160,107&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/122350365-1.jpg?resize=150,100&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Everyday items like raincoats, upholstery and food packaging are manufactured with PFAS.  <span class=\"credit\">artem_goncharov \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But, by design, PFAS don\u2019t break down easily. In fact, it\u2019s estimated that the carbon-fluorine found in all PFAS could take upwards of 1,000 years to break down naturally.<\/p>\n<p>We knew from past research that exposure to certain PFAS chemicals is associated with a range of health complications, including cholesterol increases, lower vaccine efficacy, liver problems, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, smaller birth weight and higher risk of kidney and testicular cancers.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Scientists have been ringing alarm bells about the dangers of sustained exposure to PFAS since at least the 1970s, but it wasn\u2019t until the early 2000s that the US government began to phase out two of the most common (and most-studied) types of PFAS because of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6aj2Ui2SDdc&amp;t=112s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">health concerns<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But many thousands of other forms of PFAS are still used, including PFNA and PFOSA, which were originally developed as less toxic alternatives. That doesn\u2019t appear to be the outcome, however, especially for certain demographics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese findings suggest that some newer PFAS alternatives are not necessarily low-risk replacements and warrant serious attention regarding their environmental impact,\u201d Li said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Until there are stronger regulations restricting PFAS in manufacturing, the best way to reduce exposure is to limit consumption of packaged foods and avoid microwaving fast-food containers, he added.<\/p>\n<p>The years leading up to old age are already rife with biological changes and new vulnerabilities, \u201ccharacterized by the onset of multiple age-related conditions\u201d like cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and early tissue degeneration, Li said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But the infestation of forever chemicals into our drinking water supply, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencealert.com\/it-s-raining-forever-chemicals-and-some-researchers-argue-there-s-no-going-back\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rainfall<\/a> and bloodstreams likely only make us more sensitive to serious health complications during this stage of life.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/27\/health\/middle-aged-men-two-common-chemicals-that-are-aging-you\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even the best anti-aging creams can\u2019t compete with \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d Smile lines and crow\u2019s feet give away our age on the outside, but on the inside,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7479\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}