A new report from a team of Wayne State University researchers reveals fathers pass down more than genetics to their children — they’re also sharing toxins.
The study found that when adult male mice are exposed to a mix of old and new PFAS chemicals, it affects the genes in their offspring’s liver and fat. Wayne State toxicologist Michael Petriello worked on the study and says the results have been surprising.
“This kind of was such an interesting collaboration that I didn’t know what to expect because I had never done anything looking at paternal exposures,” Petriello said. “Every time that we expose these male mice, we see something, whether it’s in the male themselves or their offspring.”
Studies show PFAS exposure also causes less testosterone in male rats and more estradiol, a female sex hormone.
PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals resistant to oil, water, and heat, giving them the nickname “forever chemicals.” PFAS have been widely used since the 1940s in consumer projects and industry.
