50多歲的男性可能比女性老化得更快，原因在於有毒的「永久性化學物質」（1/2）

Recently CNN.com reported the following:

Men in their 50s may be aging faster than women due to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ (1/2)

CNN- By Sandee LaMotte

UPDATED FEB 26, 2026

The “forever chemicals” known as PFAS appear to be aging men faster in their 50s and early 60s, a new study found.]

Called forever chemicals due to the years it takes for them to break down, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are present in the blood of an estimated 98% of Americans, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Epigenetic aging — a measurement of one’s biological age instead of chronological age — was most advanced in men, according to the study.

“The associations between PFAS exposure and accelerated epigenetic aging were strongest in men aged 50 – 65,” said senior study author Xiangwei Li, a professor of epidemiology at China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, in an email.

“In younger men and those over 65, the associations were weaker and generally not statistically significant,” Li said. “We observed some associations in women, but they were generally smaller and less consistent than those seen in middle-aged men.”

The findings indicate a “sex-specific effect” that can be expected for chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system, a vital network that regulates key bodily functions such as growth, metabolism, mood and reproduction, said Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, who was not involved in the study.

The forum is a nonprofit foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, that focuses on science communication and research on plastics and other chemicals used in industry.

In men, the accumulation of PFAS may lower testosterone levels, impair sperm quality and increase risks of testicular and kidney cancers.

Earlier studies show women appear to eliminate certain PFAS faster than men due to pregnancy, breastfeeding and menstrual blood loss. Studies have also found the difference in PFAS accumulation between women and men narrows after menopause.

While the new study’s results are interesting, they “cannot be interpreted as cause-and-effect but rather are puzzle pieces, or building blocks, to establish biological plausibility,” Muncke said in an email.

The American Chemistry Council, which represents the industry, told CNN the “exploratory” study was based on a small sample of older adults using data collected more than 20 years ago.

“This paper does not provide evidence that PFAS exposure causes aging, nor does it change the extensive body of scientific and regulatory work already underway to understand and manage specific PFAS of potential concern,” Tom Flanagin, the council’s senior director of communications, said in an email.

(to be continued)

Translation

一項新研究發現，50多歲的男性可能比女性老化得更快，原因在於有毒的「永久性化學物質」（1/2）

一項新研究發現，被稱為PFAS的「永久性化學物質」似乎正在加速50多歲和60歲出頭男性的衰老。

由於全氟烷基(perfluoroalkyl) 和多氟烷基(polyfluoroalkyl)物質需要數年才能分解，因此被稱為「永久性化學物質」。根據美國國家科學院、工程院和醫學院估計，約98%的美國人血液中都含有這些物質。

研究表明，表觀遺傳老化 - 一種衡量生物在生理上的年齡，而非年歲上計算的年齡指標 - 在男性中最為顯著。

該研究的資深作者、上海交通大學醫學院流行病學教授Xiangwei Li在電子郵件中表示:「暴露於PFAS與表觀遺傳老化的加速之間的關聯在50至65歲的男性中最為顯著」。

Li教授說: 「在年輕男性和65歲以上的男性中，這種關聯較弱，通常不具有統計意義」; 「我們在女性中也觀察到一些關聯，但它們通常比中年男性看到的更小且更不一致」。

未參與這項研究的食品包裝論壇（Food Packaging Forum）的董事總經理兼首席科學官Jane Muncke表示，這些發現表明“性別特異性效應” 的存在，這對於幹擾內分泌系統，一個重要網絡的化學物質來說，是可以預期的。內分泌系統負責調節著生長、新陳代謝、情緒和生殖等。

該論壇是一個總部位於瑞士蘇黎世的非營利基金會，它致力於科學傳播以及對工業中使用的塑膠和其他化學品的研究。

在男性體內，PFAS 的累積可能會降低睪固酮水平，損害精子質量，並增加睪丸癌和腎癌的風險。

早期研究表明，由於懷孕、哺乳和月經失血，女性似乎比男性更快清除某些 PFAS。研究也發現，停經後，女性和男性體內 PFAS 累積的差異會縮小。

Muncke 在一封電子郵件中表示，雖然這項新研究的結果很有趣，但「不能將其解釋為因果關係，而更像是拼圖碎片或構建單元，用於建立生物學上的合理性」。

代表該行業的美國化學理事會告訴 CNN，這項「探索性」研究是基於一小部份老年人樣本，並使用 20 多年前收集的數據。

該理事會高級通訊主管 Tom Flanagin 在一封電子郵件中表示：“這篇論文並沒有提供 PFAS 暴露會導致衰老的證據，也沒有改變目前正在進行的大量科學和監管工作，這些工作旨在 理解並管理有潛在關注的特定 PFAS。”

（待續）

Note:

1. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or PFASs) (全氟和多氟烷基物質) are a group of synthetic organofluoride chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. Widespread use of PFAS began in 1938 with the invention of Teflon, a fluoropolymer coating that resists heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. They are used in a wide variety of products including waterproof fabric, yoga pants, carpets, shampoo, mobile phone screens, wall paint, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, firefighting foam, electrical insulation, and cosmetics. (Wikipedia)

2. Epigenetic aging (表觀遺傳老化) refers to the changes in gene expression that occur as an individual ages which are not caused by changes in the underlying DNA sequence but rather by chemical modifications that affect how genes are activated or silenced. (ChatGPT)