Toxic Chemicals in Clothing, Cookware, Food Packaging and Other Everyday Products Global Statement
BERKELEY, Calif., May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — “Stain-resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal” is how journalist Callie Lyons refers to a chemical called C8. This chemical is persistently found in the bodies of nearly all humans and animals on the planet. This widespread contamination raises significant public health concerns. Exposure to C8 has been linked to a wide range of health problems, including cancer, liver malfunction, hypothyroidism, obesity, ulcerative colitis, and decreased immune response to vaccines in children. Not only does C8 accumulate in the human body, but its potential effects ripple through ecosystems. It affects wildlife and disrupts reproductive systems in various species. As more research unfolds, the imperative for regulatory action becomes clear. This forces society to confront the consequences of a chemical that has become a contemporary environmental crisis. Ultimately, this challenges our understanding of safe living conditions in an increasingly polluted world.
Over 200 scientists from 38 countries reach consensus that the entire class of highly fluorinated chemicals such as C8 (also known as PFCs or PFASs) proves extremely persistent, potentially toxic, and requires replacement with safer alternatives. They publish the Madrid Statement documenting this scientific consensus today in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Highly Fluorinated Chemicals
Highly fluorinated chemicals extensively serve various consumer products by imparting desirable properties such as stain resistance, nonstick characteristics, and waterproofing. These versatile compounds commonly appear in a diverse range of applications, including outdoor and fashion clothing that withstand harsh weather conditions, carpets that resist spills and stains for easier cleaning, and furniture that maintains its appearance by repelling liquids and other substances.
Furthermore, they play a significant role in cookware. They provide a nonstick surface that enhances cooking convenience and food release. Additionally, fluorinated chemicals are prevalent in food contact paper, ensuring that moisture and grease do not affect food quality during storage. Some cosmetics also incorporate these chemicals to help products maintain a longer-lasting finish. This improves water resistance, thus contributing to both functionality and consumer satisfaction.
The widespread use of these chemicals highlights their importance in modern manufacturing and product development. They reflect ongoing advancements in materials science.
Harmful Flourinated Chemicals make us Guinea Pigs
“Must our population be the guinea pigs to determine if similar chemicals are as harmful as C8?” asked Arlene Blum, PhD, Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute and first author of the Madrid Statement. Before adding any fluorinated chemicals to consumer products we should ask whether we really need them. Or can the same function be achieved with a safer solution?”
Highly fluorinated chemicals persist for thousands of years in the environment, raising significant concerns about their long-term impact. Future generations continue to face exposure to these potentially harmful substances. This exposure occurs through various channels, such as contaminated water, air, and food, creating an alarming situation for public health. Additionally, these resilient chemicals permeate our surroundings. They infiltrate deep in the ocean, settle on mountaintops, and appear in nearly all living creatures, from the smallest microorganisms to large mammals. The widespread presence of these substances not only threatens ecological balance but also raises questions about the safety of our food chain and the integrity of natural habitats.
Chemicals Leaching Everywhere
Every second, highly fluorinated chemicals are leaching out of the clothing, carpets, and food packaging we use everyday,” said Arturo Garcia-Costas of The New York Community Trust, a major funder for the Green Science Policy Institute’s work on reducing the use of classes of harmful chemicals. Once these extremely persistent toxic chemicals make their way out of these products and into our bodies and the environment, there is no going back. Classes of chemicals like this should be proven safe before they’re used in consumer products.”
For more information, visit greensciencepolicy.org/highly-fluorinated-chemicals
SOURCE Green Science Policy Institute
http://www.greensciencepolicy.org
