Fabric Protectors are Toxic

Gentleman and Ladies,

Edited by CompleteSeal - 08/April/2009 at 3:21am

"Another fascinating study involved measuring perfluorooctanoic
acid (PFOA) in food packaging where perfluorinated
chemicals (PFCs) are commonly used. Of the different food
packagings investigated (including hamburger wrappers, french
fry boxes, paper plates, dental floss, etc.), microwave popcorn bags
were shown to leach extremely high levels of PFOA into the
popcorn, such that consuming one bag of popcorn per month
could account for as much as 20% of the average levels of PFOA
found in human blood (see section on PFOA, perfluorooctanesulfonate
(PFOS), and perfluorinated surfactants for more details).
In addition, many of the new exposure studies are focusing on
chiral contaminants, where enantiomer-specific uptake and metabolism
can occur. For example, papers include the measurement
of chiral toxaphene congeners in eggs from laying hens and the
enantioselective elimination of toxaphene metabolites in fish."

Check out the whole article at http://isis.ku.dk/kurser/blob.aspx?feltid=211671

Say goodbye to take-out, fast food restaurants, some dental floss brands and - oh, yeah - Microwave popcorn which the report said "such that consuming one bag of popcorn per month could account for as much as 20% of the average levels of PFOA found in human blood" - and that is only one bag per month.  Looks like the whole world is closing in on your attempt to single out the source.

"possible health risks" means there exists the possibility.  No indication of a PROBABLE the outcome is more than likely.  There is possibility that the plane you fly on next will crash, not a probability.  A possibility exists that the bridge you drive over will collapse, not a probability.  Heck, there is a possibility that I might win the super lotto, no one said a probability.  I understand that if you dive head first off a 40 story building their exists a probability that you will die.  I don't think anyone would argue that it is just a possibility.

If the stuff was bad for you the environment it would be an illegal material to be used in the production of carpet.  And if you are so worried, wear a breathing mask.  The customer isn't 3 feet from the end of your nozzle wand when you produce an aerated form of the chemical, you are.  For the customer it is in the carpet doing its binding thing with the fibers.  They are at no great health risk.

I hope you don't mind me sound like a broken record but since you could not by the naked eye tell the difference between a spec of teflon or a grain of crushed pepper, do you now use ONLY Aluminum, Copper, Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Corningware and glass cookware?

"Other studies showed rats dying after inhaling the chemical."
Based on the way most of these tests are done on lab animals it would be safe to say that they were exposed to a full dose of the chemical and were deprived of oxygen.  Did anyone spray Scotsguard at the rat every day?  No, they practice a form of science known as "Rush To Judgment".  Everything else I have heard of like Saccharin for example used in tests on rats the same way resulted in death or cancer.  Take everything you hear or read with a grain of salt.

I have been selling it and using it since 1974.  No cancer.  Early teflon pans were more of a worry because the teflon would end up in the food.  Hench plastic spatulas now and better processes in making these pans.

I'm a green cleaner, proud of it too but I am not buying into the teflon scare that has been going on for years without proof.   Tell you what - when it takes a special hazard chemical license to apply it, I'll stop doing it.  And I will stop buying carpet and switch to hardwood floors.

Hope you use only stainless steel, copper and cast iron pots and pans.  Otherwise it sure is hypocritical of you to say you won't apply it but you don't mind using it.

then why do Dupont Teflon claim there are no cfc's?