Rome, September 9, 2015 – Greenpeace published an alarming report entitled “ Footprints in the Snow – The dangerous PFC in the most remote places on the planet” “, a research Global with which aims to draw attention to a problem for some time but this little known and never solved: the presence of substances invisible but highly persistent in the environment.
Hazardous chemicals and persistent, also used in the production of outdoor clothing, leave traces dangerous even in the most remote and unspoiled places in the mountains, real natural paradises of our planet.
Between May and June, eight teams of Greenpeace activists have gone on expeditions across three continents to take samples of water and snow. The greatest concentrations of PFCs (perfluorocarbons), used in clothing outdoors, were recorded by Greenpeace in Italy, Sibillini Mountains and the Swiss Alps
Hungarian Joseph, head of Greenpeace’s campaign against pollution Italy confirms: “We found traces of PFCs in snow samples collected in all locations investigated. Of the 17 compounds found in all snow samples analyzed, well-4 showed the highest concentrations in the samples of the lake of Pilate, including perfluorooctane sulfonate already subject to restrictions under the Stockholm Convention “.
“The PFC – says Greenpeace – are used in many industrial processes and consumer goods: the outdoor clothing industry, in particular, uses them in waterproof and stain-resistant finishes. Once released into the environment degrade very slowly; sometimes for hundreds of years, scattering across the globe. Some PFCs may affect human reproduction, encouraging the development of cancers and affect the hormonal system.
The outdoor industry uses images of beautiful mountain landscapes, beautiful forests, clean rivers and freshly fallen snow to give the image of freedom and love of nature that their consumers feel wearing their products. Thanks to the exploitation of this imagery of outdoor brands have seen significant growth in their turnover. It is ironic to think that companies that depend on nature for their business voluntarily will release hazardous chemicals into the environment. “
What is the solution for those who want to go trekking in natural paradises? “The good news for outdoor enthusiasts – says Greenpeace – is that there are safer alternatives to PFCs and some brands already sell clothing PFC free, like the ones we used successfully in our shipments. And they behaved in a sublime even in adverse weather conditions and to over 5,000 meters above sea level in the mountains of the Haba Snow in China “.
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