Significantly higher levels of polyfluorinated compounds (PFC) — toxic and bioaccumulative chemicals frequently used in water-resistant textiles — have been found in the air at outdoor gear shops by Greenpeace Taiwan, which said it potentially exposed customers and staff to health risks.
The organization yesterday revealed results of an investigation into indoor air quality at 16 outdoor gear shops in Taipei and seven European cities from February to April, which found PFC levels in the shops were dozens of times higher than those in common clothes shops, offices and residential buildings.
PFC concentrations in the air detected at three outdoor gear shops in Taipei were between 53 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3) and 148ng/m3, while the concentrations were less than 28ng/m3 in general indoor environments, Greenpeace pollution prevention project manager Chen Ling-yao (陳玲瑤) said.
Similar results were found in outdoor gear shops in Germany, Sweden and Norway, and PFC levels in those shops were 20 to 60 times higher than PFC levels in general indoor environments, Chen said.
While it remains unknown what level of PFC concentration in the air could cause obvious health effects, exposure to the substances might damage the thyroid, the immune system and the reproductive system, and it might also induce tumor growth and impede vaccine acceptance among children, Chen said.
Although there are few studies about the health risks of volatile PFCs, Greenpeace said it hopes its investigation could encourage scientists to research the issue, she said.
It has been known that fluorotelomer alcohol, a chemical of the PFC family, is easily volatilized and can naturally degrade into perfluorooctanoic acid, which is a toxic substance that might cause cancer, she said.
The investigation also showed that PFCs found in Taipei were different from those found in Europe.
More than 50 percent of PFCs found in outdoor gear shops in Taiwan were long-chain PFCs, which have a relatively stable molecular structure and can persist longer in the environment, while PFCs found in European shops were mainly short-chain chemicals.
“While some manufacturers have started replacing long-chain PFCs with short-chain PFCs, both have the same quality,” Chen said.
“They are not easily degradable and can accumulate in the body. Therefore we urge manufacturers to phase out PFCs completely,” she added.
Outdoor brands like Paramo, Vaude and Rotauf have promised to eliminate the use of PFCs in their supply chains, suggesting that it is possible to make PFC-free water-resistant clothing, Chen said.
“However, many brands have refused to phase out PFCs when there are alternative materials, leading to pollution and health risks,” she said.
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