In line with scientists, toilet paper can cause cancer.
Experts on the University of Florida warn that toilet paper may contain toxic “without end chemicals,” also often known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have previously been linked to certain cancers and even low sperm counts.
In recent studypublished Wednesday in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, scientists detected a substance in toilet paper often known as diPAP, or perfluoroalkyl phosphate diester.
These precursor compounds have the flexibility to turn into various kinds of PFA, namely a substance called PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, which is potentially carcinogenic.
![Toilet paper pattern on a yellow background](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007463707.jpg?w=1024)
These “everlasting chemicals” have been present in many popular items – cosmetics, non-stick pans, clothes and even baby products – and have recently turn into the topic of a category motion lawsuit over Thinx-era panties.
The underwear allegedly contained potentially carcinogenic chemicals that the plaintiff claimed posed a health risk to the wearers.
The toilet paper study was inspired by earlier research by the identical team of scientists. They watched before presence of PFA in biosolids – in other words, solid waste from sewage treatment plants. So that they desired to resolve the PFA contamination problem and see if toilet paper was the cause.
![Toilet paper rolls on a blue background](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007463706.jpg?w=1024)
Knowing that “age-old chemicals” are used to make paper, they decided to analyze toilet paper.
“We asked ourselves where the chemistry is used, and one among the products is paper,” Timothy Townsend, study co-author and professor of environmental engineering on the University of Florida, he told Hill.
With the assistance of volunteers, the researchers analyzed toilet paper sold in Africa, Western Europe and North, South and Central America, extracting PFA from samples in addition to sewage sludge from a US wastewater treatment plant. After discovering the presence of diPAP, which was the important substance found, they compared their findings with data from previous wastewater studies.
They concluded that toilet paper accounted for 4% of the diPAP commonly present in sewage systems within the US and Canada – but in Europe, the number has skyrocketed. For instance, in Sweden diPAP accounted for 35%, and in France as much as 89%.
But even recycled toilet paper just isn’t protected – it can be contaminated with PFA as a consequence of the reuse of materials containing diPAP.
“This reduction in PFA is critical as wastewater and sludge is usually reused for irrigation and/or land use,” the researchers pleaded, noting the risks that “without end chemicals” pose to human health.
While North America’s use of toilet paper is higher than many other countries, the measly 4% diPAP impurities in wastewater suggest that PFAs are literally entering the system through other routes, in response to researchers.
The study offers a greater understanding of where PFA contamination comes from, but could allow experts to be “higher prepared to implement changes,” Townsend said.
And toilet paper is not the only potentially carcinogenic product in most homes.
One study last month suggested a link between household PFA and the event of cancer and diabetes in children. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that the chemicals can affect growth and metabolism.
“Exposure to the PFAS combination not only disrupted lipid and amino acid metabolism, but in addition altered the function of thyroid hormones,” noted study writer Jesse Goodrich on the time.