Official health communications are failing PFAS-contaminated communities.
Fluorocarbons
Health communication
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Secondary prevention
Shared decision-making
Journal
Environmental health : a global access science source
ISSN: 1476-069X
Titre abrégé: Environ Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101147645
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 05 2022
11 05 2022
Historique:
received:
07
12
2021
accepted:
12
04
2022
entrez:
10
5
2022
pubmed:
11
5
2022
medline:
14
5
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Environmental health agencies are critical sources of information for communities affected by chemical contamination. Impacted residents and their healthcare providers often turn to federal and state agency webpages, fact sheets, and other documents to weigh exposure risks and interventions. This commentary briefly reviews scientific evidence concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for health outcomes that concern members of affected communities and that have compelling or substantial yet differing degree of scientific evidence. It then features official documents in their own language to illustrate communication gaps, as well as divergence from scientific evidence and from best health communication practice. We found official health communications mostly do not distinguish between the needs of heavily contaminated communities characterized by high body burdens and the larger population with ubiquitous but substantially smaller exposures. Most health communications do not distinguish levels of evidence for health outcomes and overemphasize uncertainty, dismissing legitimate reasons for concern in affected communities. Critically, few emphasize helpful approaches to interventions. We also provide examples that can be templates for improvement. Immediate action should be undertaken to review and improve official health communications intended to inform the public and health providers about the risks of PFAS exposure and guide community and medical decisions.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Environmental health agencies are critical sources of information for communities affected by chemical contamination. Impacted residents and their healthcare providers often turn to federal and state agency webpages, fact sheets, and other documents to weigh exposure risks and interventions.
MAIN BODY
This commentary briefly reviews scientific evidence concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for health outcomes that concern members of affected communities and that have compelling or substantial yet differing degree of scientific evidence. It then features official documents in their own language to illustrate communication gaps, as well as divergence from scientific evidence and from best health communication practice. We found official health communications mostly do not distinguish between the needs of heavily contaminated communities characterized by high body burdens and the larger population with ubiquitous but substantially smaller exposures. Most health communications do not distinguish levels of evidence for health outcomes and overemphasize uncertainty, dismissing legitimate reasons for concern in affected communities. Critically, few emphasize helpful approaches to interventions. We also provide examples that can be templates for improvement.
CONCLUSIONS
Immediate action should be undertaken to review and improve official health communications intended to inform the public and health providers about the risks of PFAS exposure and guide community and medical decisions.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35538533
doi: 10.1186/s12940-022-00857-9
pii: 10.1186/s12940-022-00857-9
pmc: PMC9092686
doi:
Substances chimiques
Fluorocarbons
0
Water Pollutants, Chemical
0
Types de publication
Letter
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
51Subventions
Organisme : NIEHS NIH HHS
ID : P42 ES031009
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
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