Let’s go back to talking once again about Pfas, subtle, invisible and dangerous substances, present in many commonly used products. And don’t even imagine how many! To reveal where they are (and we are talking about over 200 types of products) are some researchers who have been studying Pfas for several years, supported by the Global PFAS Science Panel.
Unfortunately, Pfas are everywhere and everyone, more or less, is exposed to these substances that can negatively affect our health in many ways. In fact, several studies have shown that Pfas can promote the onset of kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, liver damage, low birth weight, reduced immune responses and these are just some of the potential effects. negatives.
The fact that these substances are present, indeed omnipresent, in many commonly used products is too underestimated. Which ones are they? On the The Guardian, Juliane Glüge, Martin Scheringer and Gretta Goldenman, researchers who study Pfas, said they had found traces of these substances in more than 200 types of products.
“The thousands of chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called“ forever chemicals ”due to their extreme resistance to degradation, called“ persistence ”. Each of us carries these chemicals in our bodies and people will continue to be exposed for generations to come, ”the scientists write.
The researchers decided to test the extent of the use of these chemicals to better understand whether all of these uses are really needed. What they discovered they call “disturbing”.
“Pfas are used in almost all industrial sectors and in a much wider range of consumer products than we expected. Altogether, we found Pfas in more than 200 usage categories. We already knew the Pfas in fire-fighting foams, coolants, lithium-ion batteries, carpets, waterproof fabrics, ski waxes, paper and cardboard containers for fast food, muffin molds, popcorn bags and dental floss ”.
But many other unsuspected objects also hide Pfas’ presence and the researchers have compiled a list.
Pfas, here’s where you wouldn’t expect to find them:
- Synthetic grass
- Ammunition
- Preservation of books
- Bicycle lubricants
- Climbing ropes
- Contact lenses
- Cosmetics (practically all: body lotions, foundation, blush, cuticle treatment, eye cream, eye pencil, eye shadow, mascara, lipstick, moisturizer, makeup remover, nail polish, powder, shampoo, creams for hair, conditioners, hairspray, hair mousse, shaving cream, sunscreen)
- Wine filters
- Lines for fishing
- Coatings for guitar strings and piano keys
- Windows of greenhouses
- Hand sanitizers
- Mobile phones (insulated cables, semiconductor-printed circuits, screen coatings with fingerprint-resistant fluoropolymers)
- Packaging farmaceutico
- Photovoltaic cells
- Piano Tuning Lubricants
- Pesticides used to keep mosquitoes away
- Toner and printing ink
- Soil remediation
- Water treatment and purification
- Windmill blade coatings
What can be done to stem this situation? Scientists are very clear and write:
“The way forward should be to regulate all PFAS as a class. We are encouraged by the efforts of several European countries for develop a regulation that will eliminate all non-essential uses of PFAS within the European Union by 2030. But we must also change the perception among consumers, within industry and in other PFAS-producing countries, including the United States ”.
However, they were right to define the situation as “disturbing”.
Source: The Guardian
Read also:
–
The article incorporates published studies and recommendations from international institutions and / or experts. We make no claims in the medical-scientific field and we report the facts as they are. The sources are indicated at the end of each article
.
