Is Your Stain-Resistant Carpet Clogging Your Arteries?

We all know it’s hard enough to make sure we eat right and exercise to stay healthy. But what if you did all that . . . and still had high cholesterol? The latest research suggests that something besides bum genes may be making that happen.

A new study has added to the mounting evidence that “Teflon chemicals,” or perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), may actually be giving us higher cholesterol.

PFCs are used to make not only non-stick cookware but many other stain-protection treatments, for products from carpets to furniture to take-out containers and microwave popcorn bags.

Boston University researchers compared the cholesterol levels of people with the lowest load of PFCs with those of the people with the highest load and found dramatic differences. The highest levels of PFOS, which is a type of PFC that has a half-life in the body of about 5 years, were associated with cholesterol levels 13 points higher. Those with the highest load of PFOA, a second PFC with a half-life of about 4 years, had cholesterol levels nearly 10 points higher than those with the lowest load.

These results weren’t too surprising, based on studies of areas with especially high exposures to these chemicals. A large study of people living or working near the DuPont plant that released PFOA into the surrounding area found that the 25% who had the highest PFOA levels had a 50% greater risk of high cholesterol than the 25% with the lowest levels.

Other studies on the chemicals, including laboratory studies, paint a complex picture of how they might affect related health indicators like body weight and insulin resistance.

Scientists don’t yet fully understand how PFCs are messing up your diet and exercise routine. Unfortunately, we’ll have a while to figure it out because these chemicals aren’t going away any time soon. That’s because they’re part of a class of toxic chemicals called PBTs, or persistent bioaccumulative toxins, meaning they last a long time in the environment and build up in our bodies.

We just call them the worst of the worst. They may make great frying pans, but is it worth it when we know they’ll still be around for our children and grandchildren to have to deal with?

Spilled wine image courtesy of flickr user gromgull