来源：《卫报》
原文刊登日期：2022年5月12日
Among all the chemical pollutants that humans have released upon the world, PFAS are particularly disturbing. PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are nicknamed “forever chemicals” for their ubiquity, persistence and toxicity. They are used in household items including non-stick pans, waterproof fabrics, and microwave popcorn bags, and can contaminate water, air, soil, crops and animal products. They accumulate in the blood, bones and tissues of living things and do not degrade. PFAS impair human immune systems, making us more susceptible to diseases – even those we’ve been vaccinated against. Researchers associate the chemicals with liver disease, obesity, and certain cancers, among other health problems.
在人类向世界释放的所有化学污染物中，PFAS尤其令人不安。PFAS——多氟烷基物质——因其无处不在、持久性和毒性而被称为“永久化学品”。它们被用于家用物品，包括不粘锅、防水织物和微波爆米花袋，会污染水、空气、土壤、作物和动物产品。它们在生物的血液、骨骼和组织中积累，不会降解。PFAS损害人体免疫系统，使我们更容易感染疾病——甚至是那些我们已经接种了疫苗预防的疾病。研究人员发现，这些化学物质与肝病、肥胖、某些癌症以及其他健康问题有关联。
Now, for the first time, scientists have found a way to remove PFAS from the human body: by donating blood. A new study tracked PFAS levels in 285 firefighters, who are regularly exposed to PFAS in firefighting foam and accrue high levels of the chemicals in their bodies. Over a year, one group of firefighters donated plasma every six weeks, another donated blood every 12 weeks, and a third group acted as a control.
现在，科学家首次发现了一种从人体中去除PFAS的方法：献血。一项新的研究跟踪了285名消防员的PFAS水平，他们经常接触消防泡沫中的PFAS，并在体内积累了大量的这种化学物质。在一年多的时间里，一组消防员每六周捐献一次血浆，另一组每12周捐献一次血液，第三组作为对照。
“This randomized clinical trial showed that regular blood or plasma donations result in a significant reduction in PFAS levels for participants,” the study’s authors wrote. Blood donors reduced their PFAS levels by 10%, and plasma donors reduced theirs by 30%. Both groups maintained their reduction for at least three months post-trial. The study did not explore whether a reduction in PFAS in the blood necessarily leads to better health.
该研究的作者写道：“这项随机临床试验表明，定期献血或血浆会显著降低参与者的PFAS水平。”献血者的PFAS水平降低了10%，献血浆者的PFAS水平降低了30%。两组在试验后至少将PFAS减量维持了3个月。这项研究并没有探讨血液中PFAS的减少是否一定会使人更健康。
Blood is always in high demand. The American Red Cross – which supplies 40% of the country’s blood – saw its worst blood shortage in more than a decade this January. Perhaps donations will increase as people learn that giving blood may be in their self-interest.
血液的需求量总是很大。美国红十字会——为美国提供40%的血液——在今年一月经历了十多年来最严重的血液短缺。也许当人们了解到献血可能符合自身利益时，献血可能会增加。
When you donate blood you are effectively pawning off your PFAS on the blood recipient. There’s something morally icky about that, though it’s important to remember that PFAS are already ubiquitous, and blood recipients generally need blood much more urgently than they need to worry about PFAS.
当你献血时，实际上也把你体内的PFAS给了受血者。这在道德上是令人厌恶的，但重要的是要记住，PFAS已经无处不在，而且受血者通常更迫切地需要血液，而不是担心PFAS。
But the idea of offloading toxin-laced blood does raise health and ethical questions. Increased public understanding of chemical contaminants in blood “raises questions about the safety of the blood supply”, says Dr Bruce Lanphear, a co-author of the study.
但是，卸载有毒血液的想法确实引发了健康和伦理问题。该研究的合著者布鲁斯·兰菲尔博士说，公众对血液中化学污染物的了解不断增加，“对血液供应的安全性提出了质疑”。
“Individuals should not worry about the safety of donating or receiving blood. At this time, there are no regulatory limitations on PFAS in blood due to the absence of any documented evidence of harm. No study has shown a harmful effect of such substances in blood for donors or recipients,” Dr Susan Stramer, vice president of scientific affairs at the American Red Cross Blood Services, wrote by email. And donations save lives, after all.
“个人不应该担心献血或接受输血的安全性。目前，由于没有任何书面证据证明PFAS的危害，对血液中的PFAS没有任何监管限制。”美国红十字会血液服务科学事务副总裁苏珊·斯特拉默博士在电子邮件中写道：“没有研究表明血液中的这类物质对献血者或受血者有有害影响。”毕竟，献血可以拯救生命。