Donating Blood Seen to Lessen Forever Chemicals in the Body

Australian scholars recently discovered that toxic compounds that stay in the human body for long-term periods might be eliminated through activities such as blood and plasma donations.

Forever Chemicals Elimination Through Blood Donation

Red Cross Holds Blood Drive In Louisville As Nation Faces Shortage

(Photo: Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - JULY 07: A phlebotomist tends to the arm of a blood donor at the KFC YUM! Center during the Starts, Stripes, and Pints blood drive event on July 7, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. Rising numbers of organ transplants, trauma cases, and elective surgeries postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic have caused an influx in need for blood products. The American Red Cross is holding this three-day blood drive while offering incentives for donations, including Red Cross apparel, amusement park tickets, and free parking.

The chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are prominent in our body due to many factors; it brings risk to numerous functions in our body and could result in negative impacts that stay for a very long time.-

In this research, experts found that 30 percent of these PFAS substances, known as 'forever chemicals,' might be removed from our systems by simply regulating our blood through autologous donations.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are collective chemicals that include 4,000 distinct compounds. Most of these substances can be found in many places and even household objects. Among the most popular but controversial applications of PFAS is related to the firefighting foams.

According to a report by New Atlas, a huge population of firefighters has body systems high in PFAS levels. Many studies confirmed that PFAS could inflict high-exposed people with negative impacts such as problems in liver and thyroid organs, immunity impairments, and obesity.

The presence of PFAS in many types of environments led to many health organizations and businesses limiting their chemical use in establishments and common products. However, the problem with PFAS still prevails in those who already have the toxic 'forever chemicals' in their system, as there are still no plausible solutions to eliminate the compounds outside the human body.

ALSO READ: Targeting This Brain Circuit Can Boost the Skills of Children Struggling With Math, Study Claims

Blood and Plasma Donation Reduces PFAS Levels by 30 Percent

Macquarie University and Concord Repatriation General Hospital expert Robin Gasioworski, who also led the study, explained that the results showed a massive decline in PFAS levels in the group that had either plasma or regular blood donations compared to the control group.

Both plasma and regular donations were observed with much improvement in patients, but those who took plasma donations yielded a 30 percent decrease in PFAS levels than those who had regular donations, Gasiorowski continued.

The authors focused on decreasing PFAS levels in patients who underwent blood donations, but the health benefits associated with the drop in chemical substances remain unsolved.

Experts believe that further investigation is required to point out the effects of PFAS decline via blood donations, as it was already established that long-term PFAS exposure commonly leads to distinct illnesses.

Fellow Macquarie University expert and Environment Protection Authority Victoria specialist Mark Patrick Taylor, who also co-authored the research, said on ABC News that their findings relieved many members of the firefighter's community from the long wait regarding the results of studies around PFAS and its adverse effects.

The authors mentioned that there are still no hints of any contamination in the donated blood from PFAS patients, but they emphasized that blood authorities should be monitoring the circulation of donated volumes for possible health effects and elevated PFAS levels in both the donors and receivers.

The study was published in the journal JAMA Network Open, titled "Effect of Plasma and Blood Donations on Levels of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Firefighters in Australia, A Randomized Clinical Trial."