Study Finds ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Human Brain Tissue for the First Time

The study found that the number of carbon atoms in PFAS compounds plays a key role in their accumulation in the brain.

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A new study has revealed the presence of the “forever chemicals,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in human brain tissue.

PFAS, widely used in food packaging, cookware, firefighting foam, and furniture, has been detected in human blood, but their presence in brain tissue had not been extensively studied.

The chemical is also subject to major compensation claims against Australia’s Defence Department due to its use in firefighting foam on military bases and contamination issues.

“Humans have been exposed to PFAS through water, contaminated food, indoor dust, and consumer products,” said Dr. Claire Shepherd, director of the Sydney Brain Bank at NeuRA.

“It’s difficult to find people in developed countries without detectable PFAS levels in their blood,” she said in a statement, noting that the number of carbon atoms in PFAS compounds was a key reason behind build-ups in the brain.

The research was carried out by the Sydney Brain Bank, the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, and UNSW’s School of Biomedical Sciences.

Links to Cancer and Neurological Diseases

The study also raised concerns about links between PFAS exposure and conditions such as thyroid disease, liver damage, testicular cancer, and neuro-cognitive effects.

Researchers analysed post-mortem brain and serum samples, finding that PFAS distribution in the brain depends on the compound’s carbon structure.

“Understanding how individual PFAS behave in the brain is crucial for evaluating potential health effects, including neurodegenerative diseases,” Dr Shepherd said.

While science is still working to establish clear causal links, some research suggests a connection between PFAS exposure and increased risks of testicular, kidney, and breast cancers, as well as changes in cholesterol levels, immune function, and hormone regulation.

However, Queensland University Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne told a parliamentary committee in January that proving PFAS directly causes diseases is challenging, particularly at low levels of exposure.

“A lot of those diseases or symptoms, like increased cholesterol, can be caused by a range of factors, making it difficult to pinpoint PFAS as the cause,” he said.

Government Steps Up PFAS Response

Amid growing concerns, the Australian government announced in December 2024 the creation of a national coordinating body to manage PFAS contamination.

The body will oversee pollution control at key sites, including Williamtown Air Force Base in NSW, Army Aviation Centre Oakey in Queensland, and Tindal Air Force Base in the Northern Territory—areas heavily contaminated by firefighting foam, affecting local communities.

Meanwhile, Wreck Bay residents in NSW, whose land has been affected by PFAS pollution, have called for stronger action.

The Select Committee on PFAS heard their concerns in January, along with expert testimony on the complexities of linking PFAS exposure to chronic diseases.

Although often called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence, Osborne noted that PFAS do break down over time and are eventually eliminated from the human body.

However, researchers stress the need for further studies to understand the full impact of PFAS on brain function and overall health.