So-called “forever chemicals” are nearly impossible to avoid. Found in everything from nonstick pans to waterproof jackets, PFAS chemicals accumulate in the body and environment — and have been linked to everything from infertility to cancer. But new research suggests help could come from inside your gut.
In a study published in Nature Microbiology, scientists at the University of Cambridge found that certain gut microbes can absorb and trap PFAS, potentially helping the body eliminate them.
“We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations, and store these in clumps inside their cells,” said Dr. Kiran Patil, senior author of the study. “Due to aggregation of PFAS in these clumps, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects.”
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of over 4,700 synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, water and grease. They're found in fast food packaging, makeup, carpeting, cookware — and nearly every human tested.
To test how gut bacteria might help, the researchers introduced nine strains of PFAS-absorbing bacteria into the guts of mice with human-like microbiomes. The result: the microbes absorbed between 25% and 74% of the PFAS the mice ingested, which was then excreted.
Crucially, the microbes kept removing the same percentage of PFAS even as exposure levels increased — a sign they may scale with exposure.
“We haven’t found a way to destroy PFAS, but our findings open the possibility of developing ways to get them out of our bodies where they do the most harm,” said Dr. Indra Roux, co-author of the study.
First author Dr. Anna Lindell added: “PFAS were once considered safe, but it’s now clear that they’re not. It’s taken a long time for PFAS to become noticed because at low levels they’re not acutely toxic. But they’re like a slow poison.”
The team has co-founded a startup, Cambiotics, to explore probiotic supplements that could reduce PFAS buildup in the body. In the meantime, researchers recommend avoiding PFAS-coated cookware and using water filters certified to reduce PFAS levels.
The study was supported by a range of funders, including the UK Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Wellcome Trust, the German Research Council, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme and BBSRC UKRI.
With PFAS exposure now nearly universal and difficult to reverse, the findings offer a rare glimmer of hope: that we may be able to train our own microbiomes to help clean up the damage.