為什么我們不能逃離“永遠的化學品”

為什么我們不能逃離“永遠的化學品”

Chemicals called perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been used for decades to make products more stain-resistant, waterproof or nonstick. They're used in cookware to keep food from clinging to pots and pans. They're incorporated into clothing, like rain gear, to help repel stains and water, used in foams used to fight wildfires and used in furniture and carpeting to make them resistant to stains and liquids. PFASs are even used in fast food and other packaging to keep food from sticking. These "forever chemicals" — so called because they persist in our bodies and the environment for years — are everywhere.

全氟烷基物質(PFASs)是一種化學物質，幾十年來一直被用于使產(chǎn)品更耐污、防水或不粘。它們被用在炊具上，防止食物粘在鍋碗瓢盆上。它們被添加到衣物中，比如防雨裝備，以幫助抵抗污漬和水，用于撲滅野火的泡沫，用于家具和地毯，使它們能抵抗污漬和液體。PFASs甚至被用于快餐和其他包裝，以防止食物粘在一起。這些“永恒的化學物質”——之所以這么叫是因為它們會在我們的身體和環(huán)境中存留多年——無處不在。

There may be some unwelcome side effects to staying dry in the great outdoors, so check labels before you buy and ask questions. (Photo: Vitalii Matokha/Shutterstock)

Warnings about their use have been echoed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which confirmed in April that the chemicals have made their way into our food system. The warning was based on the initial findings of the agency's ongoing investigation of the chemicals and the U.S. food supply. The ongoing work will be presented in a updated website the agency plans to unveil this week, according to CNN.

美國食品和藥物管理局(FDA)也對它們的使用發(fā)出了警告，并在4月份證實這些化學物質已經(jīng)進入了我們的食品系統(tǒng)。這一警告是基于該機構正在進行的化學品和美國食品供應調(diào)查的初步結果。據(jù)cnn報道，正在進行的工作將會在本周公布的一個更新網(wǎng)站上展示。

'We are decades behind in the research' on PFASs

我們對PFASs的研究落后了幾十年

The wrappings on fast food often have PFASs in them because the chemicals stop food from sticking. (Photo: Xanya69/Shutterstock)

Because the chemicals have been used for decades in so many ways, they are engrained in the environment, Grandjean says. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters found that PFAS levels exceed recommendations in the drinking water supplies for at least 6 million Americans.

格蘭德吉恩說，由于這些化學物質幾十年來以多種方式被使用，它們在環(huán)境中已經(jīng)根深蒂固。發(fā)表在《環(huán)境科學與技術快報》(Environmental Science & Technology Letters)上的一項研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，至少有600萬美國人的飲用水中PFAS的含量超過了建議水平。

The link between PFASs and obesity

PFASs和肥胖之間的聯(lián)系

What you eat, and where you eat it, matter when it comes to PFASs. (Photo: Lightspring/Shutterstock)

The February 2018 study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, found that higher levels of PFASs in the blood were associated with increased weight gain after dieting, particularly in women. The compounds are referred to as "obesogens" because they may upset normal metabolism and increase your risk for gaining weight the more you're exposed to them. The study found that people with higher concentrations of PFAS in their bodies also had a lower resting metabolic rate (RMR), meaning they burn fewer calories during normal daily activities.

2018年2月發(fā)表在《公共科學圖書館·醫(yī)學》(PLOS Medicine)雜志上的一項研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，血液中PFASs含量較高與節(jié)食后體重增加有關，尤其是對女性而言。這些化合物被稱為“致肥物質”，因為它們可能擾亂正常的新陳代謝，并增加你的體重增加的風險。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，體內(nèi)PFAS濃度較高的人，其靜息代謝率(RMR)也較低，這意味著他們在日常活動中消耗的熱量較少。

What you can do

你能做什么

It's not that difficult to find out what's in your tap water. (Photo: Latte Art/Shutterstock)

To reduce your exposure to PFASs, Grandjean suggests calling your municipal water plant to make sure your water doesn't contain unacceptable levels of these compounds. (Although Grandjean points out that he believes the EPA's "safe" limit of 70 parts per trillion is too high.) He suggests drinking and cooking with bottled water or installing an activated carbon filter.

為了減少對PFASs的暴露，Grandjean建議給你的城市水廠打電話，以確保你的水不含有這些化合物的不可接受的水平。(盡管格蘭德金指出，他認為環(huán)保局規(guī)定的“安全”上限(每萬億分之70)過高。)他建議用瓶裝水飲用和烹飪，或者安裝一個活性炭過濾器。

In addition, when shopping for everything from rain gear and waterproof shoes to carpeting and cookware, be informed, Grandjean says. Do your research, look for labels and ask if the products have been treated with PFASs.

此外，格蘭德吉恩說，在購買從雨具、防水鞋到地毯和炊具等各種物品時，一定要注意。做好調(diào)查，尋找標簽，詢問產(chǎn)品是否用過PFASs。