The magic ingredient that makes water bead off your rain jacket is set to be outlawed. The European Chemicals Agency has just started a six-month evaluation of a proposal to restrict around 10,000 perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka ‘forever chemicals’.
The substances, which in the past were also referred to as PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals), are sold by chemical companies for application to paper and textiles as water-repellent, stain-resistant and grease-proofing treatments.
However, scientific research has discovered links between exposure to PFAS and health problems including cancer, increased cholesterol
