They warn of the risks of using adhesive strips that contain carcinogenic substances

MEXICO CITY (apro).- An investigation revealed the use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in different brands of adhesive tapes, used to cover wounds. PFAS are highly dangerous pollutants for the environment and people.

“Because the bandages are placed over open wounds, it is concerning to know that they may also be exposing children and adults to PFAS,” said Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program. of the United States.

Some of the health effects associated with different PFAS are:

• Reduced immunity.
• Reduction in vaccination response.
• Increased risk of allergies and asthma in young children.
• Affected growth, learning and behavior of infants and older children.
• Increase in cholesterol levels.
• Metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Reduced fertility in men and women.
• Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer.
• Endocrine disruption.
• Altered thyroid function.
• Increases the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

Mamavation – a community network of parents and green bloggers – conducted research to determine whether consumers were exposed to PFAS when they covered open wounds with adhesive strips.

For the studies, they sent 40 bandages from 18 brands to a laboratory certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for signs of PFAS.

The results of the examinations revealed that 65% of the total bandages analyzed had traces of PFAS. Of 40 bandages analyzed, organic fluorine – a PFAS marker – was detected in 26, ranging between 11 ppm and 328 ppm.

The products that contained these substances are:

• Band-Aid
• Care Science
• First born
• CVS Health
• Equate
• First Honey
• Rite Aid brand
• Let’s salt
• Up & Up

Some of these brands are available in online stores.

“It is discouraging to find another major product space, plasters or bandages, containing PFAS compounds where transfers to users are conceivable. “PFAS compounds deserve the name ‘forever chemicals,’ so when bandages containing PFAS are discarded after use, their final resting places will be contaminated for the indefinite future,” said Terrence Collins, director of the Green Sciences Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.