People with glasses may be exposed to cancer-causing chemicals by wearing anti-fog masks

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

People who wear glasses may be exposing themselves to "high concentrations" of cancer-causing chemicals due to wearing face masks in the pandemic, warns a new study.

Potentially dangerous levels of man-made chemicals known as PFAS - used to make items such as non-stick pans and stain-proof fabrics - have been found in anti-fogging sprays and cloths.

The products are popular among glasses-wearers, particularly during the pandemic, to prevent condensation on their lenses while wearing a mask or face shield.

Researchers tested four top-rated anti-fogging sprays and five top-rated anti-fogging cloths sold on Amazon.

They found all nine products contained fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and fluorotelomer ethoxylates (FTEOs), two types of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) that largely have flown under the scientific radar until now.

Exposure to some PFAS is associated with impaired immune function, cancer, thyroid disease, and other health disorders.

Mums and young children may be especially vulnerable to the chemicals, which can affect reproductive and developmental health.

Study leader Dr. Nicholas Herkert, a researcher at Duke University in the United States, said: “Our tests show the sprays contain up to 20.7 milligrams of PFAS per milliliter of solution, which is a pretty high concentration."

Dr. Herkert noted that because FTOHs and FTEOs have received relatively little study, scientists don’t yet know what health risks they might pose,

But research suggests that once FTOHs have been inhaled or absorbed through the skin, they could break down in the body to PFOA or other long-lived PFAS substances that are known to be toxic.

Dr. Herkert said that the FTEOs used in all four spray mixtures that were analyzed in the new study exhibited "significant" cell-altering toxicity and conversion to fat cells in lab tests.

He said: “If we were to assume that FTOHs and FTEOs have similar toxicity to PFOA and PFOS, then one spray from these bottles would expose you to PFAS at levels that are several orders of magnitude higher than you’d receive from drinking a liter of water that contains PFAS at the current EPA health advisory limit for safe consumption, which is 70 nanograms per liter."

Duke Professor Heather Stapleton initiated the study after reviewing the ingredient label on a bottle of anti-fogging spray she bought for her nine-year-old daughter.

She said: “It’s disturbing to think that products people have been using on a daily basis to help keep themselves safe during the Covid pandemic may be exposing them to a different risk.

“Ironically, it was advertised as safe and non-toxic. It said to spray it on your glasses and use your fingers to rub it around.”

She said none of the other eight products tested even listed their ingredients, making it next to impossible to tell if they contained potentially harmful chemicals until they were analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry in her research lab.

The team said that because their study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, is only the second ever to focus on FTEOs and had a small sample size, more research will be needed to "flesh out" the initial findings.

Dr. Herkert said: “FTOHs and FTEOs could be metabolic disrupters, but the only way to tell is through in vivo testing on whole organisms. We only did in vitro - lab dish - testing,”

The researchers said that studies with larger sample sizes might also identify other undisclosed chemicals that are being used in the sprays or cloths.

Prof Stapleton added: “Because of Covid, more people than ever - including many medical professionals and other first-responders - are using these sprays and cloths to keep their glasses from fogging up when they wear masks or face shields.

“They deserve to know what’s in the products they’re using.”