A group of international scientists are warning the public about chemicals found in pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, cookware, carpet treatments and even outdoor wear because of their possible health hazards. In their "Madrid Statement," which has been published in the journal of Environmental health Perspectives, the scientists identified the chemicals as PFCs, or perfluorinated chemicals, and PFASs or polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl.
The chemicals have been found to increase the risk of C8 exposure that is linked to various health problems like thyroid disease, high cholesterol, testicular cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, kidney cancer and ulcerative colitis.
"PFASs are found in the indoor and outdoor environments, wildlife, and human tissue and bodily fluids all over the globe," the scientists wrote in their study. "They are emitted via industrial processes and military and firefighting operations, and they migrate out of consumer products into air, household dust, food, soil, ground and surface water, and make their way into drinking water."
The study, which involved more than 200 scientists in 38 countries, was conducted from 2005 to 2013 in communities that were determined to have high exposure to C8. They are urging concerned organizations to set restrictions and convince manufacturers to start eliminating PFASs from their production line.
Previously, PFAS found in Teflon products from DuPont have been phased out because of concerns that the chemicals in its cookware raise cancer risks. However, the danger now lies in the possible replacement chemicals the companies are using.
"The concern really is that we are replacing old chemicals, with new chemicals that have similar structures. We don't want to repeat history again here," said Bill Walker, a co-author of the Madrid Statement. He suggests more research to finding safer alternatives.
There are, however, critics of study, who are calling it hype.
"Regulators around the world have reviewed the data and approved these compounds as being safe for their intended uses," said Janet E. Smith, a spokesperson for DuPont. The company insists it has done extensive studies for the alternatives.
In a separate report from Medical Daily, the American Chemistry Council said that the study "ignored the fact that such chemicals use 'essential technology for many aspects of modern life,' and that tests, reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency, concluded that these alternatives were safer than the chemicals they were replacing."
