• Children's products labeled water- or st

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Wednesday, May 04, 2022 22:30:48
    Children's products labeled water- or stain-resistant may contain PFAS


    Date:
    May 4, 2022
    Source:
    American Chemical Society
    Summary:
    Seems like kids are always getting into something, so products
    marketed toward them often claim to repel liquids. Some items
    contain potentially harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
    (PFAS) to accomplish this feat, but companies aren't required to
    disclose these 'forever chemicals' on labels. Now, researchers
    show that some children's products advertised as water- or
    stain-resistant contain PFAS, even items labeled 'green' or
    'nontoxic.'


    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Seems like kids are always getting into something, so products marketed
    toward them often claim to repel liquids. Some items contain potentially harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to accomplish this
    feat, but companies aren't required to disclose these "forever chemicals"
    on labels. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology show that some children's products advertised as water-
    or stain-resistant contain PFAS, even items labeled "green" or "nontoxic."

    ========================================================================== Exposure to PFAS through inhalation and ingestion has been linked to a
    number of health concerns, including decreased effectiveness of vaccines
    in children, cancers and high cholesterol, according to the U.S. Centers
    for Disease Control and Prevention. But few studies have looked at
    potential PFAS exposures among kids and teens from the products they
    interact with. So, Laurel Schaider and colleagues wanted to see whether
    these compounds were present in apparel, bedding and furnishings that
    are marketed to children or expected to be used by them.

    The team's data revealed that 54 of the 93 items surveyed contained
    fluorine, an indicator of PFAS. Of the fluorine-containing products, 18
    had measurable levels of at least one PFAS. A total of 19 had precursor compounds that can be transformed into highly stable perfluoroalkyl
    acids when oxidized in the environment or the human body. PFAS and their precursors were only found in items specifically labeled with trademarks
    for water- or stain-resistance, or that used similar wording, such as "waterproof," "stainproof" or "leak-proof." Some of these products also
    had green certifications or claimed to be nontoxic.

    The team explains that these results were not surprising because many certification processes don't include a check for PFAS, or they have
    higher acceptable limits than the levels found in this study. Overall,
    products marketed toward young consumers as water- or stain-resistant
    could contain PFAS, which the researchers say represents a nonessential
    use of these substances. They suggest that these substances be removed
    to protect children's health.

    The authors acknowledge funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
    the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health and Silent Spring Institute.


    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
    Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Kathryn M. Rodgers, Christopher H. Swartz, James Occhialini, Philip
    Bassignani, Michelle McCurdy, Laurel A. Schaider. How Well Do
    Product Labels Indicate the Presence of PFAS in Consumer Items Used
    by Children and Adolescents? Environmental Science & Technology,
    2022; DOI: 10.1021/ acs.est.1c05175 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220504082248.htm

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