“The Danish Environmental Protection Agency has started a campaign to raise awareness of the presence of fluorinated chemicals in outdoor clothing.
Items such as gloves, rainwear, snowsuits and all-weather clothing are often coated with polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), the EPA said. This makes the materials both water and dirt repellent while ensuring the clothes are breathable.
PFASs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and studies have shown they have hazardous effects on human health and the environment. It is estimated that around half of the consumption of fluorinated substances worldwide is in the clothing industry, the EPA said.
It conducted a recent survey of 1,031 Danes who had bought outdoor clothing within the last two years. Only 6% said they knew if the fabric contained fluorinated substances…
In June, the European Commission published its amending Regulation to restrict the manufacture, marketing and use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances. Some exemptions are in place.”
Read the full article at chemicalwatch.com