Concern mounts over impact of toxic “forever chemicals” in the Arctic – Nunatsiaq News
Fluorinated compounds can damage immune system, may increase COVID-19 severity
Alarm is growing about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the Arctic, which have been found to harm peoples’ immune systems and may possibly increase the risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Known as “forever chemicals,” these man-made fluorinated compounds are widely used in manufactured goods where they repel oil and water.
And when they get into the environment or into the human body, they can persist for years.
These harmful chemicals have been making their way into the Arctic’s waters and food chain.
A recently published study by Laval university researchers found that the concentration of fluorinated compounds in the blood of pregnant Nunavik women was two times higher than among the general Canadian population.
