Short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS can be found in many consumer products, such as non-stick frying pans, food packaging, and cosmetics. Scientific evidence has linked PFAS exposure to numerous serious health impacts, including different types of cancer.
Rewatch our special webinar organised by the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) in collaboration with the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), where we explore links between PFAS and cancer in the context of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluation and relevant epidemiological data.
The webinar featured Dr. Tony Fletcher, Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Since 2005, his main research focus has been on the health effects of PFAS. In addition to the various C8 Science Panel studies on health effects in the Mid-Ohio Valley population, which was polluted by PFOA from a DuPont Teflon plant, he has worked with local researchers on two other large population exposures to PFAS: the Veneto region in Italy, polluted by the Miteni PFAS manufacturing facility, and the town of Ronneby in Sweden, polluted by firefighting foam used at a nearby airport. He also participated in an IARC Monograph on the carcinogenicity of PFOA and PFOS.
The topic was presented by Tom Buis, Strategic Policy Advisor at KWF Kankerbestrijding (the Dutch Cancer Society, a member of the Association of European Cancer Leagues), where he focuses on environmental factors and planetary health. Tom has contributed to policy development on various topics: access to medicines and vaccines, carcinogenic environmental factors and intellectual property rights and their impact on health. He has held positions at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation, Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation and Wemos.
The webinar was moderated by Sandra Jen, Programme Lead for Health and Chemicals at HEAL.