PFAS-coated clothes that are thrown away will often end up either incinerated or in landfill. Unless incinerated at very high temperatures (>1000oC), fluorinated polymers could release more harmful PFAS during burning. PFAS of environmental concern have also been found in landfill leachate. PFAS is found in treated waste water from industrial and domestic sources and has been found in both rivers and groundwater. Conventional drinking water processes will not remove PFAS.Small quantities of PFAS will be removed during wash and wear of products containing PFAS. This includes fluorinated polymers used on stain-resistant coatings, and non-polymers that remain on clothes after production (Lassen et al. 2015).Non-polymer PFAS can build up in blood protein of animals, and is not always removed quickly. This means that predators eating PFAS-contaminated food will have higher levels in their bloodstream, and concentrations can increase up the food chain. Studies suggest that build up of PFAS is similar to those of other Persistent Organic Pollutants such as DDT.PFAS are estimated to be settling in arctic regions at rates of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year (25-850kg per year), depending on the specific PFAS chemical in question. Certain PFAS are released as gases to the environment and are blown a long way by wind and air currents in the atmosphere,. These gas PFAS will over time degrade to more persistent chemicals like PFOS and PFOA. This may be one reason why PFAS of environmental concern have been found in remote regions such as the Arctic as well as near PFAS production sitesPFAS including PFOS and PFOA have been found in air samples around Europe. The chemicals are found in small quantities, but appear in almost all samples tested. PFAS enters the atmosphere both from factories and the air inside our homes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554424 Non-polymer PFAS are used in the production of fluorinated polymers. The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes generally releases these PFASs into the environment, both by air and water emissions. They are very hard to remove during water treatment. Workers in textiles factories are some of the population most exposed to these potentially harmful chemicals.

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Circular economy Blogs

2 May 2023

Chemicals and the Circular Economy: A Mattress Case Study

Our new Evidence Review assesses how mattress recycling may provide a working case study for effective chemical management within a circular economy.

Author
Hannah Evans

24 April 2023

Chemicals and the Circular Economy: What’s the problem?

Are chemicals of concern undermining our circular economy? Our new review assesses the latest evidence.

Author
Hannah Evans

8 March 2023

What does the Environmental Improvement Plan mean for chemical pollution?

The Environmental Improvement Plan makes lots of positive statements on tackling chemical pollution, but will they turn into action?

Author
Hannah Evans

3 October 2022

The Fight to Destroy Waste Domestic Seating POPs

The bumpy road to a POP-free environment points to the need to reduce or ideally stop using harmful chemicals in our domestic seating products.

Author
Catherine Amis

6 September 2022

Fidra’s Approach to Supporting Sustainability

Transparency needs to be common practice to achieve best practice.

Author
Catherine Amis

1 June 2022

Chemical flame retardants: New study highlights chemical exposure risk from household furniture

Chemical flame retardants are being increasingly linked to harmful health and environmental effects, many are calling for alternatives to achieving fire safety.

Author
Catherine Amis