Study finds concerning levels of PFOA in children

BERLIN – Plastic by-products were found in 97 per cent of blood and urine samples from 2,500 children in a new German study. Researchers who carried out the study said they were especially concerned about toxic levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) discovered. PFOA is an extremely persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemical used in non-stick cookware. Also known as C8, PFOA was at one time heavily used in the outdoor clothing industry, however, most outdoor clothing manufacturers have shifted to C6 and C4 chemistry in the past few years. Greenpeace’s Detox campaign – which put the focus on the broad chemical class of PFCs – can take huge credit for helping to get the issue of PFOA’s use in outdoor clothing on the agenda.