Environmental and Health Concerns
Despite the presence of some natural fluorocarbons such as tetrafluoromethane, which has been reported in rocks, man-made fluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases.
Another important aspect in terms of environmental concerns, is certain fluorocarbons' bioaccumulative properties. Fluorocarbons are extremely stable and can be stored in the bodies of both humans and animals. Examples of harmful fluorocarbons include PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), frequently present in water resistant textiles and sprays conferring water resistant properties to textiles. Data from animal studies of PFOA indicate that it can cause several types of tumors and neonatal death and may have toxic effects on the immune, liver, and endocrine systems. Data on the human health effects of PFOA are however sparse.
The fluorocarbon, PFOA and PFOS have both been subject for numerous investigations by the EU and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding them being harmful to the environment.
Read more about this topic: Fluorocarbon
Famous quotes containing the words health and/or concerns:
“We have two kinds of “conference.” One is that to which the office boy refers when he tells the applicant for a job that Mr. Blevitch is “in conference.” This means that Mr. Blevitch is in good health and reading the paper, but otherwise unoccupied. The other type of “conference” is bona fide in so far as it implies that three or four men are talking together in one room, and don’t want to be disturbed.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“For some years now, there has been proof that the devastating effects of the traumatization of children take their inevitable toll on society—a fact that we are still forbidden to recognize. This knowledge concerns every single one of us, and—if disseminated widely enough—should lead to fundamental changes in society; above all, to a halt in the blind escalation of violence.”
—Alice Miller (20th century)