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」（2/2）

Recently CNN.com reported the following:

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

CNN- By Sandee LaMotte

UPDATED FEB 26, 2026

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Using a biological clock

The study, published Thursday in the journal Frontiers in Aging, used public data from a randomly chosen group of 326 older women and men enrolled in 1999 and 2000 in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Blood samples gathered at the time were examined for the presence of 11 types of PFAS chemicals. The DNA methylome — an epigenetic marker regulating gene expression — was also measured in the blood cells of the participants.

For this study, researchers fed these DNA data into a dozen “epigenetic clocks,” also known as biological clocks, to estimate the aging of blood and other tissues in the participants.

The dangers of PFAS

Used since the 1950s to make consumer products nonstick, oil- and water-repellent and resistant to temperature change, PFAS chemicals have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, fertility issues, high cholesterol, hormone disruption, liver damage, obesity and thyroid disease.

The dangers of so-called legacy PFAS, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and perfluorohexane sulfonate, or PFHxS, are so well-known they have been targeted for elimination worldwide under the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, a global treaty that would reduce toxic chemicals that bioaccumulate in organisms and the environment. The United States has signed the treaty but has not ratified it.

Under the Biden administration, the US Environmental Protection Agency planned to impose stricter guidelines about legacy PFAS levels, including labeling them as “hazardous substances” under the US Superfund law. However, those plans have been rolled back or delayed under the Trump administration.

The chemical industry has created many other forms of PFAS that have not been as widely studied. Those chemicals may well have the same biological impacts as the rest of the PFAS family — and that’s what the new study found, Li said.

“Our results suggest that some less-studied PFAS — namely perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) — may also have biologically meaningful associations,” Li said.

In fact, the study found higher concentrations of PFNA and PFOSA were strong predictors of faster epigenetic aging in men between 50 and 64 years of age but not in women.

Despite these findings, “it’s important not to panic,” Li said. “Our study shows associations, not proof of causation. PFAS exposure is widespread, and complete avoidance is unrealistic.

“However, reducing exposure where feasible — such as using certified water filters, following local water advisories, and minimizing contact with stain- or grease-resistant materials — may be reasonable steps,” he added. “At the same time, meaningful risk reduction depends largely on regulatory action and environmental cleanup, since many exposures occur at the community level.”

Translation

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」（2/2）

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利用生理時鐘

這項研究於週四發表在《老化領域探索》（Frontiers in Aging）雜誌上，使用了來自美國國家健康與營養調查的公開數據，該調查隨機選取了326名老年男女，他們於1999年和2000年參與了調查。

研究人員檢測了當時採集的血液樣本中是否有11種PFAS化學物質。此外，研究人員還測量了參與者血細胞中的DNA甲基化組 - 一種調節基因表現的表觀遺傳標記。

在這項研究中，研究人員將這些DNA數據輸入到十幾個「表觀遺傳時鐘」（也稱為生理時鐘）中，以估算參與者血液和其他組織的衰老程度。

PFAS的傷害

自 1950 年代起，PFAS 化學物質被用於製造不沾黏、防油、防水和耐溫變的消費品。然而，這些化學物質已被證實與多種嚴重的健康問題有關，包括癌症、生育問題、高膽固醇、荷爾蒙失調、肝損傷、肥胖和甲狀腺疾病。

所謂「 延存PFAS」（例如全氟辛烷磺酸 (PFOS)、全氟辛酸 (PFOA) 和全氟己烷磺酸 (PFHxS)）的危害已廣為人知，因此，根據 2001 年《關於持久性有機污染物的斯德哥爾摩公約》，這些物質已被列為全球消除的目標。該公約是一項旨在減少生物體和環境中生物累積性有毒化學物質的全球性條約。美國已簽署該條約，但尚未批准通過。

在拜登政府時期，美國環保署曾計劃對PFAS 的延存水平實施更嚴格的指導方針，包括根據美國「超級基金法」將其列為「有害物質」。然而，這些計劃在特朗普政府時期已被撤銷或推遲。

化學工業也製造了許多其他形式的 PFAS，但這些物質的研究並不廣泛。Li教授表示，這些化學物質很可能與 PFAS 家族的其他成員具有相同的生物學影響 - 而這正是這項新研究的發現。

Li教授說： “我們的研究結果表明，一些研究較少的 PFAS - 即全氟壬酸 (PFNA) 和全氟辛烷磺酰胺 (PFOSA) - 也可能具有生物學上有意義的關聯。”

事實上，研究發現，PFNA 和 PFOSA 濃度較高是 50 至 64 歲男性表觀遺傳老化加速的強有力預測指標，但在女性中則沒有這種預測作用。

儘管有這些發現，李教授說:「重要的是不要恐慌」。 「我們的研究表明存在關聯，但並未證明因果關係。我們十分普遍地暴露於PFAS，完全避免接觸是不切實際的」。

他補充道:「然而，在可行的情況下減少接觸 - 例如使用經認證的淨水器、遵循當地的水質建議以及盡量減少接觸防污或防油材料 - 地可以是合理的措施」; 「與此同時，真正的有效風險降低在很大程度上取決於監管措施和環境清理，因為許多接觸是在社區層面發生」。

              So, a new study finds that the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS appear to be making men to age faster in their 50s and early 60s. Researchers find that higher concentrations of PFNA and PFOSA are strong predictors of faster epigenetic aging in men. Apparently, in view of the dangers of PFAS, on personal level, reducing contacting them in our daily life is a good solution while meaningful risk reduction depends largely on regulatory action and environmental cleanup.

Note:

1. In genomics, 'DNA methylome' (“DNA甲基化組”) refers to the complete set of DNA methylation marks across the genome and it plays a crucial role in gene regulation and expression. (ChatGPT)