Military veterans ages 20 to 39 had higher blood levels of several PFAS, the long-lasting synthetic compounds often called chemicals, than civilians of the same age, according to a Brown University study published in Environmental Health Perspectives and announced Sept. 14. Younger veterans were also 18% more likely than young nonveterans to exceed a blood level at which the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine advises clinical follow-up.
The findings point to a practical gap. The lead author says young male veterans should consider asking a doctor about PFAS testing, yet the Department of Veterans Affairs says on its PFAS information page that the test is not currently available at VA medical centers. That leaves veterans deciding whether to test elsewhere and how to pay for it.
