SNEWS reports that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in DWR coatings for clothing (among other things, like Teflon), is turning up everywhere, including inside all of us. Companies are racing to figure out the chemistry of short-chain perfluorinated compounds (PFC’s) that are less durable in the environment, but also unfortunately on your clothes. Fluoropolymers are banned in Norway, and the EPA has asked companies to stop manufacturing long-chain PFC’s by 2015. Brands like Patagonia, Gore-tex and Montane are working on the issue and others will follow.
