PFC free means:
What is PFC?
PFC is the abbreviation for per- and polyfluorinated chemicals, also called perfluorocarbons, perfluorinated hydrocarbons or fluorocarbons. These are carbon compounds in which the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine. The group of substances includes more than 3000 different compounds. The substances do not occur in nature.
Where are PFCs used?
Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals are used in many areas and are used in many products of daily life, for example: as non-stick coatings of pans and pots, as grease- and liquid-impermeable coatings of food packaging (coffee-to-go cups, pizza boxes), as grease- and dirt-repellent impregnations of carpets or as water- and dirt-repellent finishes in many fabrics for clothing up to waterproof membranes for outdoor clothing.
What PFC free outdoor products are there?
Outdoor clothing is now impregnated PFC free by many outdoor manufacturers. Wax- or silicone-based impregnations are used as alternatives. Waxed clothing made of cotton or cotton blends is also increasingly available (again). PFC free impregnations are not quite as effective as PFC based impregnations, but are perfectly adequate for most applications.
Alternatives to PTFE membranes in clothing are polyurethane membranes, polyester membranes and polyether ester membranes. The latter can be recycled.
Why are PFCs harmful to the environment?
PFCs can enter the environment during production as well as during the manufacturing of products containing PFCs. The compounds can also be released during washing, use and disposal of PFC-containing products. Since they do not occur in nature, they are not – or only very slowly – degraded naturally. They accumulate – via the air, groundwater, soil – in environmental organisms (so-called bio-accumulation) and finally also enter the food chain.
Are PFCs harmful to humans?
Long-chain PFCs are already classified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under the REACH Regulation and are therefore banned. For short-chain PFCs, no fundamental harmfulness to humans and nature has yet been proven. However, since these substances do not degrade or degrade only very slowly and thus continue to accumulate, it is assumed, based on current knowledge, that short-chain PFCs also have a harmful effect on nature and the human organism above a certain concentration.
How do PFCs enter the human body?
PFCs are mainly absorbed through food or contaminated drinking water and dust particles. Elevated concentrations of PFCs in indoor air, for example from carpets with stain-resistant finishes, also contribute to PFC exposure.
PFC compounds have been detected in a number of food products, e.g. potatoes, popcorn, meat, dairy products, eggs, fish, lettuce. As with other polluting substances, values are determined and set – in Germany by the Federal Environment Agency – up to which the concentration of the substances in a body medium does not lead to adverse health effects.
Extensive information on PFCs, the current state of research and risk management can be found, for example, on the website of the Bundesumweltamt (German Federal Environment Agency).
