Nearly half of U.S. tap water samples contain toxic “forever chemicals,” substances used in hundreds of household items from cleaning supplies to pizza boxes to which broad exposure can carry serious health risks, according to a new study.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study tested tap water samples from more than 700 residences, businesses and drinking-water treatment plants across the country for the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals known as PFAS.

At least one such synthetic chemical was detected in 45% of the samples at levels exceeding benchmarks and U.S. proposed regulations, the researchers said.

PFAS are water resistant, meaning they do not break down in the environment and last in human bodies for years. Developed in the 1940s with the creation of Teflon, a non-stick cookware coating, today they are used in everything from clothing to plastic products.

Previous studies have measured PFAS in ground water, reservoirs and water treatment plants. But analyzing tap water allows for a more accurate assessment of what people are drinking, said Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who led the research.

Exposure to high levels of PFAS can disrupt hormones, disturb liver function, increase the risk of kidney or testicular cancer, reduce birth weight in infants and compromise the health of pregnant women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tests exist for a fraction of the 12,000 known types of PFAS. The study samples, which came from public supplies and private wells between 2016 and 2021, were tested for 32 types.

There was no difference in PFAS exposure between samples from private wells and the public supply, which “was very surprising,” Smalling said.

Public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency while private wells are not.

Compared with people in rural areas, those in urban areas are at higher risk of exposure to PFAS in drinking water, the study found.

In March, the EPA proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for six PFAS. It would require monitoring of public water systems and disclosure when PFAS levels exceed limits.

Almost $10 billion was directed to help communities reduce PFAS and other chemical contaminants as part of the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Source: www.reuters.com

On May 10, the FDA approved the use of atypical antipsychotic drug Rexulti (brexpiprazole) for treating agitation associated with Alzheimer’s dementia, making it the first FDA-approved treatment for agitation associated with Alzheimer’s in the U.S.

Agitation is among the most challenging aspects of caring for someone with the disease and has a significant impact on quality of life for patients, family members, and caregivers. It is reported in approximately half of people with Alzheimer’s dementia and is associated with earlier nursing home placement, according to the drug’s manufacturer.

In two Phase 3 randomized clinical trials, the drug was shown to reduce agitation symptoms by 31% compared to placebo.

It was approved for a Supplemental New Drug Application following a priority FDA review for drugs that promise to offer a significant improvement on current therapies.

An FDA advisory committee on April 14 recommended the use of Rexulti for treating agitation associated with Alzheimer’s dementia. The committee voted 9-1 to recommend a favorable benefit-risk profile for the drug’s proposed use.

Rexulti was approved in 2015 for treatment of schizophrenia and as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder in adults. The drug carries a warning for an increased mortality risk in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting an estimated 6.5 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S. Although cognitive decline is the predominant symptom, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia, including agitation, aggression, and irritability, are common, affecting approximately 40% of all Alzheimer’s patients.

The FDA notes that behavioral and psychiatric symptoms are associated with a higher risk of accelerated disease progression, functional decline, decreased quality of life, greater caregiver burden, increased out of-home placement, and earlier death. Most patients experience initial onset of symptoms in later stages of Alzheimer’s and worsening symptoms as the disease progresses.

Several non-medication behavior interventions have been studied for the treatment of Alzheimer’s-related agitation; some of the most effective techniques are distraction, redirection, massage, music therapy, physical activity, aromatherapy, and simulated presence therapy.

Source: www.brightfocus.org