Hazardous chemicals in all-weather garments

	24.01.2006

The fluorinated chemicals that were found in high concentrations are persistent and accumulate in living organisms. They have been shown to have harmful effects on the fertility and hormone functions of mammals. These environmental toxics can now also be found in many living animals, including polar bears and humans. Some of these chemicals are admittedly broken down in nature, but the breakdown products are often similar, and sometimes more harmful, substances.

“The analysis show worrying levels of hazardous chemicals in clothing that both children and grown-ups wear every day. In the worst cases these chemicals can cause major damage to health and the environment. The fact that we know little about these fluorinated chemicals makes matters worse,” commented the chairmen of the two environmental organisations, Lars Haltbrekken and Mikael Karlsson.

The pollutants originate from the waterproofing agents with which all-weather clothing is treated, and they are spread in the air and water. Although it has been known for some time that these chemicals can be present in waterproofing treatments, no information has been available as to which brands these chemicals are used in, or the concentration or pollutants in different garments. Because there is no requirement to declare the content of any waterproofing treatment used on a garment, consumers and retailers have no knowledge of the chemicals they contain. As yet no political decision has been taken to protect consumers.

“Politicians must react now by facing up to their responsibilities and prohibiting hazardous fluorinated chemicals and their use in consumer products. In addition, manufacturers and retailers of textiles and clothing should themselves phase out the use of all waterproofing treatments that contain fluorinated chemicals,” said Lars Haltbrekken and Mikael Karlsson in a joint statement.

Read the report: Fluorinated toxins in all-weather garments

Contacts:

Lars Haltbrekken, chairman, Friends of the Earth Norway /Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature. Mobile phone: + 47 916 121 91, e-mail: lars.haltbrekken@online.no

Mikael Karlsson, chairman, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Mobile phone: + 46 70 316 27 22, e-mail: mikael.karlsson@snf.se 

Stig Martin Solberg, head of communications, Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). Mobile phone: + 47 954 505 75, e-mail: sms@nilu.no

All-weather garments pollutants (2_Fluorinated_pollutants_in_all-weather_clothing.pdf, 1354 Kb)