3 results for tag: Forever chemicals
PFAS AKA “Forever Chemicals”
The Story of PFAS
PFAS (Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) or ‘forever chemicals’ are a class of over 15,000 toxic chemicals. Members of this chemical class feature the strongest chemical bond known to organic chemistry- the carbon fluorine bond. This incredible chemical bond leads to properties like not reacting with other substances- including an ability to repel grease, oil, and water. In this story, chemical manufacturers wanted to give their products these properties, such as jackets that didn’t get wet, refrigerants that didn’t corrode copper pipes, and frying pans that eggs didn’t stick to. PFAS chemicals were added to pizza ...
Prioritizing Children’s Health in Kid’s Products
Toxic chemicals that harm health should not be in our kids' products. But they are.
Thousands of chemicals lurk in products our kids use every day and children are far more vulnerable to toxics than adults due to their smaller size and developing organs. Even worse, the most recent studies show that new chemical compounds are produced at a rate of 10 million per year, which translates to nearly 1,000 new chemicals synthesized every hour. In 2015, OEC led the advocacy work to pass the historic Toxic Free Kids Act (TFKA), requiring manufacturers of children’s products to disclose — and eventually phase out — the worst chemicals of concern for ...
Tell outdoor retailer REI to take toxic ‘forever chemicals’ out of their apparel!
Editors Note: Thanks in part to the hard work of OEC, the support of our members, and the advocacy of like-minded organizations, REI committed to ending the sale of products with PFAS by 2026. Checkout OEC's blog below for a snapshot of our 2022 campaign pressing the retailer to abandon these toxic products.
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From waterproof jackets to boots, outdoor gear sold at REI and other retailers like Columbia Sportswear contains ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Recent science shows us that the production, use, and disposal of these products pollute people and the planet. These chemicals also make their way ...