Forever Chemicals

In episode three of the Forever Chemicals ten-part podcast series, we give an overview of how PFAS is used in modern-day production, and get an inside look at why it became a performance chemistry in the outdoor industry.

Guests featured in this episode:

- Mike Schade,⁠ ⁠⁠Toxic Free Future⁠⁠⁠

- Ammi Borenstein, Snaplinc Consulting

- Arlene Blum,⁠ ⁠⁠Green Science Policy Institute ⁠⁠⁠

- Stefan Posner, ⁠⁠textile and polymer chemist⁠⁠

- Alex Lauver, Outdoor Research

- James Pollock, ⁠⁠Marten Law LLP⁠

- Philippe Grandjean, ⁠environmental epidemiologist⁠

If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit 

⁠⁠Toxicfreefuture.org⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠Foodandwaterwatch.org ⁠⁠

Or 

⁠⁠Pfascentral.org ⁠⁠

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast⁠: ⁠https://gofund.me/77aac225⁠

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Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast.

Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more.

Head to ⁠⁠snaplincconsulting.com⁠⁠ to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks.

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Sources

Bloomberg Originals. (Nov 16, 2023). Why 'Forever Chemicals' Are Still Spreading [Video]. YouTube. ⁠https://youtu.be/a-Hu4HQvA_U?si=LEfQeRCczWvAsgr3⁠

Henry, B. J., Carlin, J. P., Hammerschmidt, J. A., Buck, R. C., Buxton, L. W., Fiedler, H., Seed, J., & Hernandez, O. (2018). A critical review of the application of polymer of low concern and regulatory criteria to fluoropolymers. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 14(3), 301-306.⁠ https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4035⁠

Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC). (2020, August). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): History and Use [PDF]. Retrieved from ⁠https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/history_and_use_508_2020Aug_Final.pdf⁠

Natural Resources Defense Council. (n.d.). PFAS Scorecard. Retrieved from ⁠https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/pfas_scorecard_r_22-04-b_03_locked.pdf⁠

PFAS are a large class of chemicals that have been used since the late 1930s. What makes them particularly hazardous is that they are persistent and difficult to break down. That means all the PFAS that have even been created still exist today.

In the first episode of this ten-part series, we learned the history of how PFAS was created.

In episode two, we get a better understanding of just how dangerous PFAS chemicals are and how a series of lawsuits brought these health hazards to light.

Guests featured in this episode:

- Arlene Blum, ⁠⁠Green Science Policy Institute ⁠⁠

- Mike Schade, ⁠⁠Toxic Free Future⁠⁠

- Stefan Posner, ⁠⁠textile and polymer chemist⁠⁠

- Scott Wilson, ⁠⁠Regenesis Environmental Remediation⁠⁠

- James Pollock, ⁠⁠Marten Law LLP⁠

- Philippe Grandjean, ⁠environmental epidemiologist⁠

If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit 

⁠⁠Toxicfreefuture.org⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠Foodandwaterwatch.org ⁠⁠

Or 

⁠⁠Pfascentral.org ⁠⁠

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast⁠: ⁠https://gofund.me/77aac225

⁠-----------------------

Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast.

Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more.

Head to ⁠⁠snaplincconsulting.com⁠⁠ to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks.

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Sources

Belisle, John. 1978. Central Analytical Laboratory Report 6867. Contributed by Sharon Lerner (The Intercept). Retrieved from ⁠⁠https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4575547-1978-PFOS-monkey-study⁠⁠

Environmental Working Group. (n.d.). For Decades, Polluters Knew PFAS Chemicals Were Dangerous But Hid Risks From Public. Retrieved from ⁠⁠https://www.ewg.org/research/decades-polluters-knew-pfas-chemicals-were-dangerous-hid-risks-public⁠⁠

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (n.d.). Industrial wastewater treatment technology. Retrieved from ⁠⁠https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/gp3-06.pdf⁠⁠

The Intercept. (2015, August 11). The Teflon Toxin: DuPont and the Chemistry of Deception. Retrieved from ⁠https://theintercept.com/2015/08/11/dupont-chemistry-deception/⁠

Toxic-Free Future. (n.d.). Breast Milk Study. Retrieved from ⁠https://toxicfreefuture.org/research/breast-milk-study/

In the first episode of this ten-part series, we explore where PFAS came from and how it became a prevalent part of our consumer products.

While the innovation of this class of chemicals has been astoundingly effective in applications like firefighting foams, waterproof rain jackets, and Teflon pans, our appetite for convenience created a toxic chemistry we may have to live with forever. 

In the next episode of Forever Chemicals, we dive deeper into how the controversy surrounding PFAS grew into a global health crisis and how it has persisted in manufacturing to this day.

Guests featured in this episode:

- Arlene Blum, ⁠Green Science Policy Institute ⁠

- Mike Schade, ⁠Toxic Free Future⁠

- Stefan Posner, ⁠textile and polymer chemist⁠

- Scott Wilson, ⁠Regenesis Environmental Remediation⁠

- James Pollock, ⁠Marten Law LLP⁠

If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts, visit 

⁠Toxicfreefuture.org⁠ 

⁠Foodandwaterwatch.org ⁠

Or 

⁠Pfascentral.org ⁠

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast⁠: ⁠https://gofund.me/77aac225⁠

-----------------------

Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast.

Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more.

Head to ⁠snaplincconsulting.com⁠ to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks.

-------------------------

Sources

1. Manufacturing Dive. (n.d.). The history behind 'forever chemicals': PFAS. Retrieved from ⁠https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/the-history-behind-forever-chemicals-pfas-3m-dupont-pfte-pfoa-pfos/698254/⁠

2. Plunkett, R.J. (1986). ⁠⁠The History of Polytetrafluoroethylene: Discovery and Development.⁠⁠ In: Seymour, R.B., Kirshenbaum, G.S. (eds) High Performance Polymers: Their Origin and Development. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7073-4_25

3. Teflon II commercials: Historical Reel 2, 1960-70, FILM_1995300_FC43, FC 43, DuPont Company films and commercials (Accession 1995.300), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807

⁠http://findingaids.hagley.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/1995_300.xml⁠

4. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (n.d.). The Gore Story. Retrieved from ⁠https://www.gore.com/about/the-gore-story#section2