The Ongoing Battle Against Non-Stick PFCs Chemicals

Many of you know about the dangers of “non-stick” perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) that have been used on food packaging, clothing, cookware, carpets, paints and much more for ages now (discovered in the 1950’s). It isn’t a fringe concern or conspiracy theory as some make it out to be, but rather it is an issue surrounded by facts that have been displayed in broad daylight by the EPA and FDA­.

Even after the EPA announced in 2002 that these chemicals posed a danger to the general public, the problem still isn’t mopped up. As recently as this past July, the EPA and FDA are still banning uses of these chemicals as food companies make small alterations and put them back on the market.

We hope to empower you with this information and not give you more things to worry about. We’re concerned about all things effecting our health, and even small steps to reduce your exposure to toxins will make a big difference.

The following updates on the battle against these harmful chemicals comes from information compiled by the Environmental Working Group and the blog Wellnessmamma.com:

What are PFCs?

Perfluorinated Chemicals, or PFCs are a family of chemicals where all molecules have carbon backbones fully surrounded by fluorine atoms. This structure makes them non-polar which gives them the ability to repel other substances.

What are PFCs used for?

Repelling things. PCFs repel oils, water, grease to avoid staining or saturation in products like carpets, paints, clothing, toiletries, cosmetics, paper and plastic food packaging, paper and plastic disposable plates, cups, utensils, etc., and more.

How Do PFCs Get in Us?

Primarily PCF’s leach into the drinks and foods we eat that touch them. We also inhale them from clothing, furniture or carpet treated with PCFs in the form of dust that releases these chemicals into the air.

In 2007–2008, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected PFCs biomonitoring data for 2,100 individuals ages 12 years and older, including 495 women ages 16 to 49 years. The four types of PFCs selected for the test were detected in 99% to 100% of the individuals sampled. The numbers are getting better, but there is a long way to go.

Why are PFCs dangerous?

Studies show that exposure to PFCs is associated with smaller birth weight in newborns, elevated cholesterol, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, inflammation of the liver, weaker immune systems, kidney and testicular cancers, obesity and even pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.

Latest News

This July (2016) the EPA issued warnings about PFC’s contaminating drinking water. The EPA has determined that PFC’s contaminated the drinking water for more than 6.5 million people in 27 different states.

In January 2016 the FDA banned three PFCs from use in food packaging like microwave popcorn bags, sandwich wrappers, and pizza boxes

While this may seem like good news, those types PFCs had already been phased out of production, and were not the PFCs currently in use.

For more information, and way to protect you and your family, visit these sources of the above article:

• 1.https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/biomonitoring-pfcs.pdf
• 2.http://wellnessmama.com/78053/problem-with-pfcs/
• 3.Environmental Working Group. “Healthy Home Tips: Tip 6- Skip the Non-Stick to Avoid the Dangers of Teflon.”
• 4.Environmental Working Group. “ EWG’s Guide to Avoiding PFCs: A Family of Chemicals You Don’t Want Near Your Family.”