Latest news with #ToxicFreeFuture
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Cancer-causing chemical hiding in incredibly common coffee machines should be 'avoided at all costs'
Your at-home coffee machine may be pushing you toward a cancer-related death, doctors say. Experts are warning against using coffee makers made of black plastic over fears the material contains high levels of cancer-causing chemicals and flame retardants. Kitchen utensils, electronics and coffee machines are made of recycled plastic that is melted together from different colored items, which gives it a messy and unappealing color. As a result, manufacturers commonly add a dye known as carbon black to the recycled products to turn them into a consistent black color to look sleeker and uniform. Studies have shown that carbon black contains numerous compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), that are carcinogenic. As a result, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified carbon black as a carcinogen in 2020, despite limited evidence on its effects on human health. To ensure that their now-black plastic products are immune to electrical fires, they also add in brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) during production A 2024 Chemosphere study has also found that exposure to items containing high levels of BFRs and OPFRs can increase the risk of cancer, cause neurotoxicity and hormone disruption. Megan Liu, study co-author and science and policy manager at Toxic-Free Future, said: 'Companies continue to use toxic flame retardants in plastic electronics, and that's resulting in unexpected and unnecessary toxic exposures. 'These cancer-causing chemicals shouldn't be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are entering our environment and our homes in more ways than one. The high levels we found are concerning.' Experts believe that if your black plastic coffee maker is damaged or is consistently exposed to boiling water for long periods of time, the cancerous chemicals may start melting during the coffee-making process and slowly trickle down into your coffee cup. Once they enter the body, these chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with the body's hormonal system. This causes damage to cells and could lead to mutations that may become cancerous. While there is no risk with occasional or rare exposure to carbon black, BFRs and OPFRs, all three of these carcinogens can accumulate in the body and cause damage to vital organs such as the thyroid, breasts, lung and heart. A 2022 Environmental Pollution study found that long-term carbon black exposure might damage lung cell DNA, cause inflammation and pave the way for lung cancer development. A 2017 Duke University study also noted that due to excessive exposure to BFRs and OPFRs through kitchen products such as coffee machines, doctors are now finding these chemicals in the blood, breast milk and urine in nearly all of the Americans they tested. An April 2024 study that tracked over 1,000 Americans over two decades found people with high levels of flame retardants in their blood had a 300 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than people with low levels of the substances in their blood. They also found people were most susceptible to developing thyroid and breast cancer, which are known to be linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Similarly, research from Harvard School of Public Health found that 80 percent of women who were undergoing the fertility treatment in vitro fertilization to get pregnant had higher levels of flame retardants in their urine as compared to those who were not. Those with the highest levels of the chemicals in their body had a harder time getting pregnant, staying pregnant and giving birth to a live child than people with lower levels of the chemicals in their body. Apart from damage to American adults, the NIH also warns that flame retardants and their byproducts are especially harmful to children as their organs are still developing and they are more likely to be repeatedly exposed to them by placing plastic items in their mouth or playing with them. 'The health of women and children must be prioritized over the chemical industry profits. We need less poison plastic, more safer chemicals and materials, and an end to plastic ingredient secrecy,' Liu said. To avoid exposure, experts suggest opting for shorter, cooler brews that are BPA-free and made of stainless steel or glass parts. Furthermore, they suggest cleaning your machine and using filtered water to stop mineral and dirt build-up to limit exposure.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Forever Chemicals In Your Closet? How PFAS May Be Harming Your Health
In the pursuit of performance, the fashion industry has quietly adopted a class of synthetic chemicals that offer stain resistance, water repellency and durability. But the price may be higher than advertised. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS, are increasingly found in clothing, from yoga leggings to hiking jackets and activewear. Dubbed "forever chemicals" because they don't naturally break down, PFAS persist in our environment and bodies, raising urgent questions about their long-term effect on human and planetary health and safety. Initially developed in the mid-20th century, PFAS are now ubiquitous in consumer goods, including personal care products, nonstick cookware, food packaging and water-resistant fabrics. In the apparel industry, they're often applied as coatings to make clothes repel water, oil, and dirt, which is convenient for outdoor gear and athletic wear, but at an environmentally hidden expense. According to a 2022 report by Toxic-Free Future, 72% of products labeled as water- or stain-resistant contained detectable levels of PFAS. These findings align with independent studies, such as one published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, which found PFAS in multiple mainstream apparel brands, including some marketed as "green" or "eco-conscious." While PFAS aren't absorbed through the skin as easily as they are ingested, research suggests that chronic, low-level exposure from clothing still contributes to a person's overall toxic burden. That's because PFAS can break down over time, entering the Air as dust, lingering on skin, and washing into water systems, where they accumulate in the environment and human tissue. Here's what the science shows: Endocrine Disruption Immune System Suppression Increased Cancer Risk Metabolic and Cardiovascular Effects Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity This growing body of evidence has prompted researchers to frame PFAS exposure not as an isolated risk, but as a chronic environmental stressor that interacts with other economic and sociocultural issues, including diet, air pollution and systemic health issues. As scientific awareness grows, so does public pressure. U.S. states like California and New York are leading the way by implementing bans on intentionally added PFAS in textiles, beginning with outerwear and expanding into broader apparel categories. The European Union is considering a comprehensive ban on PFAS in all consumer goods under its REACH regulatory framework. Still, industry resistance persists. Many apparel brands cite durability and supply chain complexity as reasons for the slow adoption of sustainable practices. Despite the highly complex nature of this worldwide topic, alternatives exist, including wax-based coatings, bio-based repellents, and PFAS-free membranes. While systemic change is paramount, informed consumer choices remain a powerful force. Here's how to reduce PFAS exposure through your wardrobe: The comfort of stain-free leggings or rainproof jackets might not be worth the cost to our long-term human and planetary health. As consumers, scientists and changemakers start to challenge the invisible risks woven into our clothes, the fashion industry faces a crucial inflection point: choose short-term performance or long-term responsibility. Certainly, what we wear is about expression, but also exposure and a more profound commitment to our overall well-being.
