PFC’s anyone?

[Matt Dirksen]

Wasn't sure if I saw much pop up on this topic earlier, so I thought I'd share a recent Trehugger blog w/ the BPL community:

http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-fashion/waterproof-non-stick-and-deadly-pfcs-outdoor-gear-are-contaminating-nature.html

I find the final paragraph jarring:

"In the meantime, avoid PFCs by staying away from fabrics with Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster, Polartec, and Gore-Tex, which could include any jackets made by Patagonia, North Face, Adidas, Columbia, and Jack Wolfskin, shoes by Nike and Puma, and swimwear by Adidas, Burberry, and Disney."

Here's a link to the Greenpeace document about their product tests: http://www.greenpeace.org/romania/Global/romania/detox/Chemistry%20for%20any%20weather.pdf

Of course, after a few minutes of Googling, I now understand (from Dead Bird's website), that there's been a voluntary agreement by "participating companies" to phase out PFOA's by this year:

http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/pubs/stewardship/index.html

http://arcteryx.com/Article.aspx?language=EN&article=PFC-in-outdoor-products

I guess I'd like to see what data Greenpeace will find on their trip this summer, what other companies are going to keep doing "business as usual", and what should ultimately done with all the PFC flavored gear on the market, should it be found that it's actually doing more harm than good through it's use?

Matt

[John S.]

Permethrin and DEET are killing bugs!

[Owen McMurrey]

Screw the bugs, PFCs will contaminate a human body for *millions* of years!

[David R.]

Besides Teflon / Gore-Tex fabrics, is there a comprehensive list of garments which contain PFCs?

[Woubeir (from Europe)]

A well known (and complicated) problem.
For the waterproof layer, everything with ePTFE so also eVent.
But also don't forget most DWR-layers are PFC based. Sure, there is an ongoing search for PFC6 or non-PFC containing DWR-treatments, but till now none are equally effective and durable as PFC8 DWR's, which also means gear that relies on DWR becomes (much) less functional.

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