Go Greener Tips

It has been said hundreds of times that what does not kill you makes you stronger.  Well, that statement may be true for love, laughter and life but it definitely is not true for the chemicals, toxins and other dangerous substances that we come in contact with on a daily basis, no matter how inadvertently it may be.  And to think that many of these harmful materials are commonly used around the house!

Information on PFC

One of these common materials is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which belongs to the perfluorochemicals (PFC) group of chemicals.  Again, despite the tongue-twisting names, these are actually found in many common items.

On one hand, PFCs are used in numerous consumer products and industrial applications ranging from personal care products and home décor items to firefighting foams and in manufacturing processes.  On the other hand, PFOAs are used for consumer products like carpets and carpet cleaning liquids, floor waxes and sealants, apparels and dental floss, and non-stick cookware.

Negative Consequences

These chemicals have their uses, of course, but the effects on the environment and on health for both human and animals are very disturbing.  And the fact that their applications are widespread makes it even more necessary to take action.  But that’s getting ahead of the story.

On the part of the environment, PFCs and PFOAs are extremely potent agents of global warming and climate change simply because of their status as greenhouse gases.  Plus, these chemicals have life expectancies in the environment lasting up to 50,000 years.  Your atoms may have long disintegrated in the cosmos but these chemicals are still present – that’s how potent these substances are in nature.

On the other hand, PFOA has been shown to be persistent not just in the environment but in humans as well.  Blood tests from around the world have confirmed that millions upon millions of people have traces of PFOA in their systems.

This news is not good either.  PFOA has been strongly linked to high cholesterol count, infertility and thyroid disease even in minimum levels.  For people who have been exposed to high levels of the chemical, PFOA causes increased risks for cancer and birth defects as well as health issues related to the immune system and the liver.  In short, it is a toxicant and a carcinogen all rolled into one lethal package.

Cookware as a Source of Toxic Chemicals

With all those facts being said, we should beware as PFOA is also found in our much-beloved non-stick cookware.  You will recognize them by the brand name of Teflon, a product of DuPont.

When heated to high temperatures, the non-stick cookware was found to contribute to the sudden death of domestic birds.  Don’t think either that only birds are adversely affected.  Teflon fumes caused by overheated cookware have been known to lead to the so-called polymer fume fever, the symptoms of which are very similar to the common flu.

Despite these known facts, the products are still being sold in very large quantities from the East to the West Coasts.  Why, you may ask?  Well, big business runs our government and the makers of these cookware are big business – simple but deadly logic.

So, what are you to do?  You may not be able to stop production but at least you can stop purchasing them.  And tell others what you know now, too.