PFCs, also known as perfluorocarbons, which are found in many household products such as food containers, are linked to early menopause, say U.S. researchers.
PFCs are man-made chemicals -- used for water- and stain-repellants -- that are used in a variety of household items, including furniture, cosmetics, clothing, carpets, paints and food packaging.
Lead author of the study, Sarah Knox of the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, W.Va., says their broad use has resulted in widespread dissemination in water, air, soil, plant life, animals and humans, reports UPI.
The study involved 25,957 women ages 18-65 who were tested for PFCs and estradiol -- the predominant sex hormone in females. The researchers also determined menopausal status of the study participants.
The study found there was an association between PFC exposure, decreased estradiol and early menopause in women age 42 and older.
"Our data shows that after controlling for age, women of perimenopausal and menopausal age in this large population are more likely to have experienced menopause if they have higher serum concentrations of PFCs than their counterparts with lower levels," Knox says in a statement.
PFCs have long been linked to cancers and thyroid disease in animal studies. The type of PFCs, says UPI, found in non-stick frying pans has been known in rare cases at high heat to kill birds and cause flu-like symptoms in people.
