The new research led by the University of South California (USC) linked higher levels of four specific types of PFAs in the blood with disruptions to a fundamental pillar of health — sleep.

PFAS enter the body through contact with consumer items and are even ingested with food and water. They don’t break down easily and can persist in the environment for decades.

Sleep is an essential component of good health. A person must sleep 7-8 hours of sleep daily. Prolonged poor sleep may raise chronic health issues, including diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, published in the journal Environmental Advances, the team collected blood samples and information about sleep from 144 participants, ages 19 to 24.