Just before the corona virus caused so much mayhem in the UK I went to see Dark Waters, a film about how one lawyer, Rob Bilott, took on the Du Pont corporation and won. It is an intriguing story of one man’s fight over decades to get justice against a huge business giant. If you are able to watch it, you will be left looking at some of your pots and pans and wondering whether they are harming you. The story concerns PFOA-C8 a commercial version of which is called Teflon. It is one of what are called forever chemicals. In this instance per and poly fluoroalkyls. The C8 refers to eight carbon atoms that are surrounded by flourine atoms. The chain is very difficult to breakdown if not impossible biologically and a large percentage of us have these chemicals in our bodies. While C8 versions have been withdrawn C6 and C4 versions, PFAS variants I believe they are called, are in every day use. However, the long term toxicity of C4 and C6 products are not well known. If you buy your coffee or food takeaway then you are certainly coming into contact with the supposedly safe versions. From the little I have read the companies dispensing takeaway cups and food containers don’t know what type of waterproof coverings are used in them. Perhaps when the corona virus allows it will be time to invest in a reusable cup for your coffee addiction but check what it is made out of first.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9071322/
Paul Noël 