Perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, having already been found to be present in breast milk, are in the hot seat again as a report out of Harvard School of Public Health has linked the chemicals to immune disorders in children, along with making them less likely to respond to routine vaccines. PFCs are found in food packaging, floor cleaners, and non-stick pans, and according to the EPA, are “toxic to laboratory animals, causing reproductive, developmental and other health problems.”
This new study is the first to link the chemical to immune disorders, after it followed 600 children from the Faroe Islands from birth until 7 years old, tracking their blood levels of PFCs along the way. The study’s lead, Dr. Philippe Grandjean, said “I don’t feel comfortable with the compounds for myself and my family and would rather eliminate them.” He also mentioned that parents may want to avoid giving their kids microwave popcorn, as PFCs are often found in the bags.
I have often written about the importance of avoiding toxic chemicals as much as possible, and have even put together a list of the 10 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid when out shopping. These chemicals are found in so many products that it can often be very difficult to avoid them all, but it’s worth the effort to do your best to do so whenever you can. So many diseases, such as cancer, come from exposure to them that your life truly does depend on your cautious vigilance when it comes to the foods and items you buy.