Continuing an occasional series on product safety issues relating to modern furnishings
A recent study carried out in Denmark and reported in the Oxford journal "Human Reproduction" links infertility in women to PFC levels in their bodies. The study can be downloaded in pdf form at this link. The results have also been quite widely reported, including this report on the BBC news website.
PFCs are "Perfluorinated" compounds, a class of chemicals that were mostly developed in the 1950s and that (initially at least) seemed inert and were valued for their water repellant properties. They found applications in textile treatments such as stain-guard treatments for carpets, upholstery and other textiles as well as fire-resistant finishes.
The problem with PFCs, along with many other classes of hydrophobic (water-repellant) organic molecules is that they are concentrated in the fats in our bodies, and our livers have no way of breaking them down or digesting them. This means that they tend to accumulate over time. The health effects of this accumulation are only just beginning to be investigated.
The new Danish study says that "in recent decades a remarkable decline in fertility rates has been observed in developed countries which can largely be explained by social changes ... but may also be in part due to reduced fecundity". 8% of women in the US for example have made an infertility related medical appointment at some point in the past. The study looked at women who had fertility issues and concluded that many of them had higher levels of PFCs in their bodies and that a causal link exists.
So What To Do?
This study is just the latest in a series over the last decade or so that have cast doubt on the safety of many solvents and treatments used in household products. It is likely that there will be more to come. My personal recommendation is to cut out the use of synthetic materials and treatments containing PFCs where (in most cases) good natural materials are available to do the same job:
There is a general review of PFCs by the Environmental Working Group at this link.
A recent study carried out in Denmark and reported in the Oxford journal "Human Reproduction" links infertility in women to PFC levels in their bodies. The study can be downloaded in pdf form at this link. The results have also been quite widely reported, including this report on the BBC news website.
PFCs are "Perfluorinated" compounds, a class of chemicals that were mostly developed in the 1950s and that (initially at least) seemed inert and were valued for their water repellant properties. They found applications in textile treatments such as stain-guard treatments for carpets, upholstery and other textiles as well as fire-resistant finishes.
The problem with PFCs, along with many other classes of hydrophobic (water-repellant) organic molecules is that they are concentrated in the fats in our bodies, and our livers have no way of breaking them down or digesting them. This means that they tend to accumulate over time. The health effects of this accumulation are only just beginning to be investigated.
The new Danish study says that "in recent decades a remarkable decline in fertility rates has been observed in developed countries which can largely be explained by social changes ... but may also be in part due to reduced fecundity". 8% of women in the US for example have made an infertility related medical appointment at some point in the past. The study looked at women who had fertility issues and concluded that many of them had higher levels of PFCs in their bodies and that a causal link exists.
So What To Do?
This study is just the latest in a series over the last decade or so that have cast doubt on the safety of many solvents and treatments used in household products. It is likely that there will be more to come. My personal recommendation is to cut out the use of synthetic materials and treatments containing PFCs where (in most cases) good natural materials are available to do the same job:
- avoid stain-resistant treatments, including Scotch-Guard and Stain-Guard and similar materials
- avoid buying items with stain-resistant or fire-resistant finishes
- avoid synthetic carpeting generally
- avoid any personal care products with PFCs, "perfluoro", "fluoro", "polyfluoro" and similar sounding ingredients
- use ceramic, metal, glass, wood and bamboo rather than plastic cooking and serving utensils
There is a general review of PFCs by the Environmental Working Group at this link.
