Research project FELIX - Feline PFAS exposure and associations to endocrine related health outcomes

People and their pets spend a large part of their lives indoors. In our homes, a number of different products and goods can release a cocktail of chemicals, many with endocrine-disrupting effects. Cats, as well as small children, ingest household dust, leading to that high levels of e.g. PFASs have been analyzed in the blood of cats and children. PFASs are a group of chemicals that have been linked to a range of hormone-related diseases, such as thyroid disorders and diabetes, which have increased significantly in recent decades in both cats and humans. With the help of a broad characterization of the cats' health status, as well as PFAS exposure, FELIX will be able to map the mechanisms of action that lead to the hormonal disorders. Previous studies have shown that many hormonal systems have been conserved and that the mechanisms are similar in different species. Therefore, the results in FELIX will be extrapolated to general conditions for humans.