These findings, Keller said, indicate that current environmental PFC exposuresat concentrations comparable to those seen in human blood samplesare putting marine species at enhanced risk of health problems from reduced immunity and may suggest a similar threat to us.
Keller reported that a recently completed study** led by colleague Margie Peden-Adams of the Medical University of South Carolina that showed PFOS is toxic to the immune systems of mice at concentrations found both in loggerhead sea turtles and humans. The ability of the mouse immune system to respond to a challenge was reduced in half by PFOSand this occurred at the lowest level of the compound ever reported for a toxic effect.
If our immune systems have a similar sensitivity to PFOS, Keller explained, humans could be immunocompromised from current environmental exposure to PFOS.
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| Contact: Michael E. Newman michael.newman@nist.gov 301-975-3025 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Source:Eurekalert |