Golf Magazine
We are asking for consumer guidelines from major apparel brands after the publication of damaging evidence to human health and the environment from PFC’s. (Perfluorinated chemicals)
Under the Greenpeace Detox campaign Adidas and Puma have agreed to phase out PFC’s by 2017.
With this in mind, what should consumer do?
Resist buying new sportswear until after 2017? Throw away their current sportswear which contains the cancer causing PFC C8 chemical?
Will the new generation of PFC’s be any safer than the ones which are being phased out? Will the chemical industry and or brands provide rigorous testing information before they are used in consumer products?
It is clear that current regulations do not protect consumers from exposure to hazardous chemicals and the financial penalties imposed on chemical companies are insufficient to prevent it happening again.
Unfortunately it is left to consumers to become more aware and start asking questions about the toxic chemicals which are used to provide the various performance functions such as stain resistant and water proof with regard to PFC’s in textiles.
Below is a consumer awareness guide for chemical groups used in sportswear written by Golf Refugees.
Carcinogenic (cancer causing), Mutagenic or toxic to Reproduction - CMR
Heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium (VI)) Organotin compounds Phthalates Perfluorinated compounds Halogenated solvents Polyaromatics Aromatic amines
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics - PBT
Heavy Metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium (VI)) Organotin compounds Perfluorinated compounds Chlorobenzenes Polyhalogenated alkanes Alkylphenols
Endocrine (hormone) Disruptor Chemicals - EDC
Organotin compounds Polyhalogenated aromatics
Alkylphenols
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