An Overlooked Gem Among Poisons 2008

An Overlooked Gem among Poisons PFCs and PFOA: Convenience with a Stunning Price Sometimes you wonder if one can escape from the things we make. We buy things and often forget the consequences of our actions. There I was looking at my new business suit and realizing that it used a stain proof chemical coating. A mistake I regret now after digging deeper into the world of perflourinated chemicals (PFCs). Chemicals like perflourooctanoic acid (PFOA) or PFCs have environmental and human health impacts that make one wonder just how wise we are by depending on so many artificial, untested chemicals.

Uncut and Commercial Free Dr. Herbert Needleman, a pediatrician and psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh stated that, "We are conducting a vast toxicological experiment in which our children and our children's children are the experimental subjects."1 PFCs pollute the blood of over 90% of North Americans2 . Beyond North America, they affect people on four different continents3 and of animals all over the world including birds, fish, dolphins and turtles to name a few4 . This isn’t surprising since 11 to 14 million kg of PFCs enter the environment per year globally5, spreading and settling wherever the Earth’s winds6 take it. PFOA, PFCs and other C-8 chemicals help make many of the products that we know today especially those with non-stick coatings. This includes cookware, utensils, food packaging, fabrics (like Gore-Tex), carpets and anything else that can be stain, grease or water-resistant 7. PFOA is one of two final breakdown products for all PFCs. Even sunlight cannot shatter PFOA 8. Every ounce of PFCs that we make stays in the environment FOREVER9. Yes, that is right - FOREVER. PFCs are as tough as diamonds apparently10. Nothing in nature is supposed to be forever and that is the sobering realization here: every molecule of PFOA can come back to haunt our children’s health now and in the future for centuries to come. Even DDT or PCBs are not as enduring by a long shot. 11 It takes an adult nearly four and a half years to get rid of just half of these PFCs in their blood with no guarantee he/she will not take in more all the while12. Since it lasts forever, it builds up in the soils13, landfills14, city sewage 15, the rest of the environment and the food web16 . Arctic animals (i.e. polar bears, Figure 1) for example, double the amount of PFOA in their blood every four years17. If it keeps coming back, can you really ever get it out of your system as it circulates throughout the land?

Figure 1 Concentration profiles of major PFCAs in polar bear liver (CEMN 2004)

Blood Diamonds? “The first source of exposure is from air pollution. The second source of exposure is through consumer products and the third one is food,” said Kathleen Cooper, Senior Researcher at the Canadian Environmental Law Association18. Two pilot studies found PFOA in tap water, outdoor air, green beans, apples, bread and ground beef from Toronto to Florida 19. PFCs are easily absorbed and broken down in our bodies into PFOA and its devilish sister, PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid). Both build up in various parts of the body including the blood and the liver 20. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence had found that “kids had higher levels of the new non-stick, flame retardant chemicals than their parents did.” 21 “It means that we are repeating the same past mistakes that happened with DDT and PCBs,” said Dr. Smith at the 2007 Growing Up Organic Conference22. According to studies reviewed by the Environmental Working Group, 19 out of 20 children tested had PFOA in their blood23 (Figure 2). How could PFCs be so insidiously widespread among our youth as if they were frying pans24 ?

Figure 2 Studies have found that 19 out of 20 children have blood contaminated with perflourooctanoic acid (PFOA). (EWG 2003)

Many fingers are pointing at DuPont’s “Zonyl” chemical (a PFC) used for “grease and waterproof paper containers for hundreds of popular food items” 25. We are talking about things like French fry or pizza boxes to cookie or doughnut packages, candy wrappers and microwave popcorn bags26 (Figure 3). Health Canada claims that packaging used in Canada does not have any Zonyl PFOA. “We import many goods

from the US and other countries that do not stop its use however,” stated Dr. Kapil Khatter, Pollution Policy Advisor for Environmental Defence27. At this moment, I imagine how much food kids are eating that have touched this chemical coating. In 2007 Dr. Scott Mabury, a chemistry professor at the University of Toronto and Jessica D’eon proved that PFCs used in paper packaging broke down into PFOA and even more poisonous relatives in the blood stream28.

Figure 3 An example of food packaging that can have the Zonyl PFC chemical coating (i.e. pizza boxes). (Fields 2003)

Who Says a Girl’s Best Friends Are Diamonds? The rising evidence of human health impacts continue to grow for even very low levels of exposure to PFOA and related PFCs. There is an increasing cancer risk29 in both animals and humans. For example, testicular, breast and liver cancer have been on the rise in the US during the past 3 decades. PFOA can wreak havoc on hormones that allow us to produce healthy children, causing birth defects or affecting brain development, hearing, growth, weight 30 and more31. PFOA could cause high cholesterol, leading to heart attack, and stroke as a result 32. Any dose of PFOA can damage the immune system. The chemical is more toxic to babies and infants than adults because they are still developing. A recent 2007 study has shown that PFCs can leave the blood of pregnant mothers and enter their child through breast milk causing substantial exposures (Figure 4) 33. Mix in the other 23000+ untested chemicals used in our products and the picture becomes infinitely messier34.

Figure 4 PFCs can pass from the mother’s blood into breast milk (Field 2007)

Taking a Crack at the Stone The government is ultimately responsible to the public it is supposed to represent, protect and serve. “The Canadian government is working on an action plan to deal with PFCs and PFOA,” mentioned Dr. Khatter35. There are things however that you can do in the mean time36: 1.

Stop using Teflon and other non-stick items if possible. If you have to use these products, don’t leave them untended and unfilled for longer than 2-3 minutes or they begin emitting PFC fumes that can also kill pet birds37

2. When you buy furniture or carpets, stay away from stain or dirt resistant options. Find products that are not chemically pre-treated and get to know your retailer. 3. Avoid buying clothes with Teflon or water, stain or dirt proof qualities. 4. Eat less packaged food or greasy fast foods as they might be in PFC coated containers. Buy more unpackaged, unprocessed fresh local and organic food if possible. 5. Avoid cosmetics or other products with the words “fluoro” or “perfluoro” on the ingredient list. Keep an eye out when looking at lotions, pressed powders, nail polish and shaving cream. “The public is way out in front,” said Cooper, “Evidence keeps getting reported and they’re switching to glass, stainless steel and other alternatives.”38 Only you, the passionate and thoughtful reader, have the power to change this situation by keeping up the pressure on your MPs, supporting bans on chemicals and pesticides and spreading this information to friends and family. It is time to hold our leaders and businesses accountable because you deserve a cleaner world where your children grow up healthy and strong. At the same time, I will promise you that I will never buy another stain proof suit ever again. Too bad, I didn’t write this article before I had bought the suit.

Sunny Lam

Sunny Lam is an environmental consultant, researcher, writer and food activist (http://web.mac.com/ sunny.lam). He holds a Masters degree in Environmental Studies from Queen’s University and specializes in urban agriculture, strategic planning, survey and data analysis. Sunny is a founding member of the Farmers Market @ Queen’s and former volunteer co-organizer with Food Down the Road. Sunny is actively involved with Canadian Organic Growers Toronto chapter. Sunny can be reached by email ([email protected]) or Facebook.

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CEMN (Canadian Environmental Modelling Network). 2004. Proceedings of a Workshop on the Environmental Fate of Fluorotelomer-Based Polymers. CEMN Report No. 200401. Toronto, Canada (Sep 12-14). Cooper K. 2007. Environmental threats to children's health - science, policy and precaution. Presentation. Growing Up Organic Conference. Toronto, ON (Feb 17). Cooper K. 2008. Personal Interview Between Sunny Lam and Kathleen Cooper, Senior Researcher, Canadian Environmental Law Association. 09 Mar. Cunningham A. 2007. Packaging Peril: Chemicals in food wrapping turn toxic. 02 Jun. Science News Online 171(22): 34. 28 Jan 2008 D'eon JC and SA Mabury. 2007. Production of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids (PFCAs) from the Biotransformation of Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Surfactants (PAPS): Exploring Routes of Human Contamination. Environ. Sci. Technol 41(13): 4799-4805. 29 Jan 2008. DOI: 10.1021/es070126x Daly R. 2005. Chemical faces scrutiny. 19 Nov. Toronto Star. 28 Jan 2008 www.ewg.org—18116 De Silva AO and SA Mabury. 2004. Isolating Isomers of Perfluorocarboxylates in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Two Geographical Locations. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38: 6538-6545. 28 Jan 2008. DOI: 10.1021/es049296p Ellis DA, Martin JW, De Silva AO, Mabury SA, Hurley MD et al. 2004. Degradation of Fluorotelomer Alcohols: A Likely Atmospheric Source of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38(12): 3316-3321. Ellis DA, Martin JW, De Silva AO, Mabury SA, Hurley MD, Andersen MPS and TJ Wallington. 2004. Degradation of Fluorotelomer Alcohols: A Likely Atmospheric Source of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38(12): 3316-3321. 28 Jan 2008 www.chem.utoronto.ca—Ellis.pdf . DOI: 10.1021/es049860w Ellis DA, Martin JW, Mabury SA, Hurley MD, Sulbaek Andersen MP and TJ Wallington. 2005. The Degradation of Fluorotelomer Alcohols in the Troposphere. Poster. Fluoros: An International Symposium on Fluorinated Alkyl Organics in the Environment. Toronto, Ontario. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 2003. Preliminary risk assessment of the developmental toxicity associated with exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, April 10, 2003. EPA Docket: OPPT-2003-0012-0002. EWG. 2003. PFCs: Global Contaminants. Online Report by the Environmental Working Group (03 Apr). 28 Jan 2008 www.ewg.org—pfcworld www.ewg.org—pfcworld or www.ewg.org—8625 www.ewg.org—8625

Fei C, McLaughlin JK, Tarone RE and J Olsen. 2007. Perfluorinated Chemicals and Fetal Growth: A Study within the Danish National Birth Cohort. EHP 115(11): 1677-1682. 29 Jan 2008

www.ehponline.org—10506.pdf . DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10506 Field JA. 2005. Fate and Transport of Fluorochemicals in Natural and Engineered Systems. Fluoros: An International Symposium on Fluorinated Alkyl Organics in the Environment. Toronto, Ontario. 28 Jan 2008 Fields S. 2003. Another Fast-Food Fear. EHP 111(16): A872. 28 Jan 2008 www.ehponline.org— EHP111pa872PDF.PDF . Fields S. 2007. Mapping a Course for PFCs: Transfer Between Mother's Milk and Serum. EHP 115(2): A97. 28 Jan 2008 . Kannan K, Corsolini S, Falandysz J, Fillmann G, Kumar KS et al. 2004. Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in human blood from several countries. Environ Sci Technol 38(17): 4489-95. Khatter K. 2008. Personal Interview with the Pollution Policy Advisor, Environmental Defence. 11 Apr. Korzeniowski S, Buck RC, Haung H and MKaiser. 2004. Exposure assessment and risk characterization of certain fluoroorganic chemicals used in food packaging. Third International Symposium on Food Packaging Ensuring the Safety, Quality and Traceability of Foods. Barcelona, Spain (17-19 Nov). Kropp T and J Houlihan. 2005. Evaluating human health risks rom exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA): Recommendations to the science advisory board’s PFOA review panel. Environmental Working Group. < www.ewg.org—EWGtoSAB_comments.pdf > L'Abbe S. 2006. Science that sticks: Chemist's work behind U.S. decision to ban chemical. 01 Feb. University of Toronto News@UofT. 04 Mar 2008 Lau C, Thibodeaux J, Ehresman D, Froehlich J and J Butenhoff. 2005. Evaluation of Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in Rat Brain. Fluoros: An International Symposium on Fluorinated Alkyl Organics in the Environment. Toronto, Ontario. 04 Mar 2008 Liu J and LS Lee. 2005. Solubility and Sorption of 8:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol by Surface Soils. Poster. Fluoros: An International Symposium on Fluorinated Alkyl Organics in the Environment. Toronto, Ontario. Lyons C. 2003. C8 also found in some McDonald's packaging. The Marietta Times. 27 Jul. 04 Mar 2008 Mabury SA et al. 2005. Chemical Personality of Fluorinated Organics or Why Chemical Architecture Matters! Fluoros: An International Symposium on Fluorinated Alkyl Organics in the Environment. Toronto, Ontario. 04 Mar 2008 Martin J, Mabury S, Smithwick M et al. 2003. Identification of long-chain perfluorinated acids in animals from the North American Arctic. Presentation. Society for Environmental Toxicology &

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Cooper 2007

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Wiles 2005

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Mabury et al. 2005

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EWG 2003

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EWG 2003

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EPA 2003

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Mabury et al. 2005

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EWG 2003

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Burris et al. 2002

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Liu and Lee 2005

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Syke 2004

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Syke 2004

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Mabury et al. 2005, Butenhoff 2005, Poulsen et al. 2005, Liu and Lee 2005

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Ellis et al. 2004

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Cooper 2008

19

EWG 2003

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Poulsen et al. 2005, Bakker et al. 2005

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Rick 2007

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Rick 2007

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EWG 2003, Fields 2003

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Srinivas and Shaik 2007, EWG 2003

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Wiles 2005

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Wiles 2005

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Khatter 2008

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D’eon and Mabury 2007

29 Amrute 30

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Srinivas and Shaik 2007

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Poulsen et al. 2005, Fei et al. 2007, EWG 2003

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Korzeniowski et al. 2004

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Fields 2007

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Cooper 2007, 2008

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Khatter 2008

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EWG 2003, Cooper 2008, Rick 2007

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Srinivas and Shaik 2007

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Cooper 2008