PFAS Immunotoxicity: EFSA Project’s Novel Methodological Approaches for Safety Assessment

🔍Food safety update

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a project to explore the immunotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used chemicals that pose potential health risks and are under increasing regulatory scrutiny in several countries.

Epidemiological studies have shown that PFAS can potentially cause immunosuppression, increase the risk of infections, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations, although the underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear.

This project employs new methodological approaches (#NAM) to better understand these risks and improve the previous safety assessments.

The effects of PFAS were investigated using target immune human cell-based in vitro models, suitable to assess the relevant immunotoxic parameters observed in epidemiological studies (i.e. decreased antibody production). Results obtained fully support the evidence from human epidemiological studies. Furthermore, mathematical fate and distribution models were used to identify the nominal concentration of PFAS in the in vitro cell system and physiologically based kinetic (PBK) models were used to perform quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation. The ‘Universal Immune System Simulator’ was used to complete the ITS and investigate the reduced response to vaccination also on vulnerable populations. The use of these selected NAMs may provide a tool to support, by providing mechanistic information, regulatory risk assessment and to study of the immunotoxic potential of other PFAS.

A crucial topic for companies aiming to ensure safe and compliant products.

Here is the full document.