Read the full article by Liam McGee (BackCountry Magazine)
“We’ve all heard someone say, ‘They don’t make things like they used to,’ often complaining about products that break faster yet cost more than they once did. In many ways, they’re right. But thanks to perand polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in ski pants and coats of years’ past, the neon color-blocked ’90s jacket hanging in your closet may still be bombproof. That impenetrability, however, is their downfall.
PFAS, colloquially known as forever chemicals, have been the backbone of most durable water repellent (DWR) treatment for nearly half a century. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds of these substances create low surface tension that repels water and lasts forever. However, research has linked PFAS to increased cancer risk, developmental delays, immune suppression and hormone disruption. And if it’s not good for us, it’s not good for the ecosystems we recreate in either.
‘PFAS don’t readily break down in the environment or the human body,’ explains Sandy Flint, the Senior Materials Manager at Stio. ‘They’re invisible to the naked eye, can contaminate food and water, and some types can accumulate in our bodies over time.'” …