Liver Damage May Be Caused By PFAS Exposure: Study

The Hill: Scientists Link ‘Forever Chemicals’ Exposure To Liver Damage 
Scientists have identified a link between exposure to “forever chemicals” and liver damage, as well as a potential connection to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, in a study published on Wednesday. Exposure to such compounds — also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS —  was associated with elevated levels of a liver enzyme called ALT, which serves as a biomarker for liver damage, the scientists concluded in an Environmental Health Perspectives article. (Udasin, 4/27)

CBS News: New Technology Seeks To Destroy Toxic "Forever Chemicals" In Drinking Water
Researchers estimate more than 200 million Americans in all 50 states could have cancer-causing carcinogens in their drinking water. The toxic chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called PFAS, have been virtually indestructible — but new technology aims to change that. Sandy Wynn-Stelt discovered too late that her Michigan home sat across from a former waste dump. Her husband died of cancer six years ago and she has had thyroid cancer. For more than 20 years, they drank well water contaminated with PFAS. (Strassmann, 4/26)

And the hepatitis outbreak is spreading —

CIDRAP: More Kids' Hepatitis Cases Reported In US And Abroad
Several more unexplained hepatitis cases in young children have been reported, including three in Illinois and more in the United Kingdom. Also, media reports note possible cases in Japan and Romania. In the United States, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported three potential cases of severe hepatitis in children, two in suburban Chicago and one in the western part of the state. One of the patients required a liver transplant. (4/26)

In news about women's health —

CNN: Women Responded Better To Early Alzheimer's Interventions, Study Finds 
After age and genetics, being a woman is the single most important risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease, experts say. "Two out of every three brains affected by Alzheimer's disease are women's brains," said Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic in the Center for Brain Health at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine. (LaMotte, 4/26)

Press Association: Asthma Attacks: Women More Likely To Die From Event
Women with asthma in the UK are twice as likely to die from an asthma attack compared with men with the condition, a charity has said. Asthma + Lung UK said that, over the past five years, more than two-thirds of asthma deaths in the UK have been among women. The charity said the current "one-size-fits-all" approach to asthma treatment is "not working" because it does not take into account the impact that female sex hormones during puberty, periods, pregnancy and menopause can have on asthma symptoms and attacks. (Pickover, 4/27)

NBC News: Study Finds ‘Burnout Epidemic’ For Working Women Two Years Into Pandemic
Nearly 8 in 10 women said their workloads had increased since the start of the pandemic, the study said, and job satisfaction had dropped so significantly that many women were considering leaving their jobs — or the workforce entirely. Now, the latest survey of 5,000 women in 10 countries by Deloitte, first reported Tuesday by NBC News, finds a troubling evolution for working women in a “burnout epidemic.” Fifty-three percent of women reported stress levels higher than they were a year ago, with mental health lagging and work-life balance nearly nonexistent. And whereas women were considering leaving their employers last year, the top-cited driver to leave now is burnout.  (Vitali, 4/26)

In other health news —

The Wall Street Journal: More Than 60 Tons Of Ground Beef Recalled Due To E. Coli Concerns 
A New Jersey company is recalling more than 60 tons of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli, according to the Agriculture Department. The products distributed by Lakeside Refrigerated Services were shipped nationwide, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Monday. The department’s food safety and inspection service discovered the issue during routine testing of the products, it said. (De Avila, 4/26)

Fox News: Long-Term Antidepressant Medication Use May Not Help Patients Over The Long Haul, Study Says
After a period of time, antidepressant use in individuals with depression was not associated with better health-related quality of life, (HRQoL), compared to those with depression who did not take medications, a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE suggested. "It is generally well known that depression disorder has a significant impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. While studies have shown the efficacy of antidepressant medications for treatment of depression disorder, these medications’ effect on patients’ overall well-being and HRQoL remains controversial," study author Omar Almohammed, PhD, who is an Assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at  King Saud University, in Saudi Arabia, and his colleagues said in a news release about their research study. (McGorry, 4/26)

KHN: Advance Care Planning For Guns: Owners Can Help Ensure Safe Use And Transfer Of Weapons
Kerri Raissian didn’t know what to do about her father’s guns when he died of covid-19 in December at age 86 and left her executor of his estate. Her father, Max McGaughey, hadn’t left a complete list of his firearms and where they were stored, and he hadn’t prepared a realistic plan for responsibly transferring them to family members. (Graham, 4/27)

KHN: KHN Is On TikTok! 
KHN is now on TikTok, where our reporters deliver the latest health care news straight to your feed. From disparities in rates of cesarean sections to the absurd amount of time Americans waste on phone calls with insurance companies, we create both lighthearted content and journalistic deep dives into the state of public health.  (4/27)