Hidden In Plain Sight

Hidden In Plain Sight

Poly-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the air of outdoor stores

A recent investigation by Greenpeace has found hazardous poly-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the indoor air of stores selling outdoor gear in Europe and East Asia. Samples were taken in the flagship stores of the brands Mammut, The North Face, Norrona and Haglöfs and in non-branded outdoor stores. The results show that concentrations of PFCs in the air in outdoor stores in Europe were 20 to 60 times higher than air samples collected in Greenpeace's office and storage rooms in Hamburg and up to 1000 times higher than urban outdoor air; concentrations of PFCs in outdoor stores in Taiwan were in the same range as those in Europe. PFCs in significant concentrations were found in the flagship stores of all companies.

In previous reports, Greenpeace has found the presence of per and poly-PFCs in waterproof outdoor gear including jackets and trousers, shoes, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents, in leather gloves, and in swimwear. These studies investigated a range of PFCs, such as ionic per-fluorinated chemicals, as well as volatile per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals. In this study the air sampling found volatile poly-fluorinated chemicals, mainly fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH), which are becoming increasingly common as substitutes for ionic PFCs in outdoor clothes and readily evaporate into the air.

Studies show that certain PFCs such as PFOS and PFOA can cause adverse impacts both during development and during adulthood, in part due to their hormone disrupting properties, with impacts on the reproductive system and the immune system,18 as well as being potentially carcinogenic in animal tests.

Findings of air testing in outdoor stores

The results from the investigations show significantly higher concentrations of certain PFCs in the indoor air of stores selling outdoor gear compared to the air from offices or clothing stores not selling outdoor products. PFCs in significant concentrations were found in the flagship stores of all companies.

Amongst the long-term samples, the highest PFC-concentrations were found in the German stores of the Swiss outdoor brand Mammut, followed by the Haglöfs store in Oslo. The highest concentrations of PFCs were found in a short-term sample taken in a Mammut store in Berlin.

In general, the pattern of PFCs in the indoor air of the European stores is different from the pattern in stores in Taiwan. In Europe short chain PFCs such as 6:2 FTOH dominate, although long chain PFCs such as 8:2 FTOH are also present in most of the stores. In Taiwan the long chain PFCs dominate in 2 out of the 3 stores.

According to previous scientific studies, it is well known that volatile PFCs such as FTOH can be degraded to corresponding carbonic acids. Studies on professional ski waxers show that exposure to 8:2 FTOH in indoor air results in the presence of PFOA in the blood of the waxers. PFOA is a toxic and carcinogenic substance and is classified as a substance of very high concern in Europe.

The avoidance of all PFCs, both long and short chain, is supported by more than 200 scientists from 38 countries who signed the 'Madrid statement' - which recommends avoiding the use of PFCs for the production of consumer products, including textiles, in line with the precautionary principle. There can only be one conclusion - the elimination of ALL PFCs - from all outdoor products, is necessary.