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By what mechanism are PFAs harmful to health? Is it because they are not, in fact, chemically inert? Or else how.
by card_zero 1y ago
By what mechanism are PFAs harmful to health? Is it because they are not, in fact, chemically inert? Or else how.
- ben_w 1y agoNothing made of atoms is truly chemically inert, not even noble gases. It's just more or less reactive, and when/how. But even if it was literally un-reactive, sometimes it's enough to just be in the way. Imagine folding a protein, or assembling a structure of RNA origami*, but some big lump of un-reactive molecule is in the middle — the ultimate shape is different, leading to different biochemical results. Grit in the gears. Or even just heavy: deuterium is chemically identical to hydrogen, but still has a lethal concentration** because it is twice the mass. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_origami https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_origami ** Replacing 50% of the hydrogen in a multicellular organism with deuterium is generally lethal, unless this is a widely believed myth that's about to get a bunch of debunking
- vharuck 1y agoNot all harmful effects are caused by direct chemical reactions. For instance, asbestos causes health problems through the physical process of friction and piercing. Small particles that aren't removed by the body can do a lot of harm.