TAKE THREE Cleaning and waterproofing products
The science bit
PERFLUOROCARBONS, or PFCs, are the hydrophobic (water-repellent) chemical compounds often used in the membranes or finishes of the clothing that keeps us drier outdoors, sometimes called DWR (durable waterproof repellent). They are well suited to outdoor gear because they are very stable, resisting wear and multiple washes. However, stability has turned out to be a double-edged sword. The chemicals persist over decades in the environment and in our bodies, and are linked with cancers, reduced fertility, suppressed immunity and thyroid disruption – in both human and animal studies.
As a consequence, there’s a move to detox outdoor gear, either using less harmful PFCs or removing them altogether. The technical challenge is to maintain hydrophobic performance with less stable – and therefore less persistent and damaging –
