Crash
2004-01-12 20:49:35 UTC
Monday, January 12, 2004
What ever happened to 3M's Scotchgard ?
BBC: "Scotchguard - the manufacturers of fabric and
carpet coatings that protect against soil, water
and oil, have discovered that some chemicals
in their products persist in the environment and in
the human body for a number of years."
On June 21 2000, an article in the Sacramento Bee
said 3M announced "last month" that the product would
be phased out within a year. 3M spokesman
Chris Welch said "We've looked and we don't think
there is any alternative that can replace Scotchgard
by the time it comes off the market."
"It could take up to seven years to develop
alternatives." he said.
The product was schedualed to come off the shelves
by the end of 2000.
The active ingredient in this Scotchgard
(and its other Protector products) is a
long rubbery fluorocarbon molecule that works its
magic by being very "sticky" on one end, so that it bonds
tightly to protein and other materials, and is very
"repellent" on the other end.
Most Americans now have it in their blood. "It's in
a lot of different locations." said Bill Coyne, senior
V.P. of R&D at 3M in 2000.
Perfluoroocatanyl sulfonate (PFOS), is the active
ingredient in Scotchguard which raised this stink.
The PFOS fluorocarbon molecule has an 8-carbon chain,
and so it is sometimes now called C8.
For nearly 50 years 3M has marketed Scotchgard, -- PFOS
was invented in 1953 while attempting to invent a new,
more inert rubber.
In 1997, 3M found PFOS in supposedly clean samples from blood
banks all over the world when trying to find a "control"
(uncontaminated) blood source. PFOS can be found in children,
in polar bears from Alaska, and in bald eagles from the
Great Lakes.
Traditional scans for persistent pollutants missed this exposure
for a long time because unlike most POPs, PFOS doesn't
accumulate in fatty tissue. Instead it binds to proteins.
Like the other fluorocarbon molecule, CFCs long banned for
destroying the ozone layer, PFOS were long thought to be
chemically so inert as to be biologically and environmentally
inactive. This inertness also means it is stable and does
not readily break down like natural biologically produced
molecules. They "don't decompose in nature. "
"scotchgard: a liver-damaging chemical that's in your blood"
- EPA internal memorandum, May 16, 2000:
"PFOS accumulates to a high degree in humans and animals.
It has an estimated half-life of 4 years in humans.
It thus appears to combine Persistence, Bioaccumulation, and
Toxicity properties to an extraordinary degree"
"to an *extraordinary* degree" ?
As one example;
* According to EPA's assessment of 3M data, PFOS caused
postnatal deaths (and other developmental effects) in offspring
in a 3M-run 2-generation reproductive effects rat study
(NOAEL of 0.1 mg/kg/day and LOAEL of 0.4 mg/kg/day).
At higher doses in this study, all progeny in first generation
died while at the LOAEL many of the progeny from the second
generation died. It is very unusual to see such second
generation effects."
About 35% of home use Scotchgard escapes into the air and
environment at the time it is applied. More is lost due to
normal wear and cleaning.
Scotchgard was one of 3M's most profitable product lines,
and accounted for $300 million in annual sales.
" ...the company producing PFOS products possessed
information hinting at its risks but chose not to share
their data with regulators or the public for years."
[for a detailed exploration of this history, see
The Chemical Industry Archives]
It is not widely known that Scotchgard is also widely used
for many things, such as to water-resist food containers, like:
* Microwave popcorn
* Fast food (e.g., chicken sandwiches and french fries)
* Pizza
* Bakery items
* Beverages
* Candy
* Cookies
* Candy bars
Recent ad for 3M Carpet and Upholstery Protector Scotchgard:
New Technology Formulation!
"Contains no PFOS (perfluorooctanyl sulfonates) or C8."
The new "safer" re-formulated Scotchguard's active ingredient is
a similar rubbery fluorocarbon molecule, but with a 4-carbon
chain, perfluorobutane sulfonate, called C4, or PFBS.
3M claims that while it too is easily absorbed into humans and
the environment, it is not as persistent in animal bodies, thus
it is more healthy.
In fact, 3M says the new C4-based Scotchgard is completely safe.
The company adds that it has worked closely with the new EPA
and has performed more than 40 studies, which are confidential.
The EPA won't release them.
end
============Some Online REFERENCES
Scotchguard Discontinued.(Brief Article)
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FVP/24_257/62895626/p1/article.jhtml
Scotchgard strikes back Book: Our Stolen Future
Our Stolen Future examines the ways that certain
synthetic chemicals interfere with hormonal messages
involved in the control of growth
and development, especially in the fetus.
http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/oncompounds/PFOS/2001-04pfosproblems.htm
3M looks to rebuild Scotchgard business
" ...Scotchgard is headed for places it hasn't been before,
in eyeglass lenses and in paint." May 28, 2003
http://www.ewg.org/issues/pfcs/20030606/pdf/PFBS_article.pdf.
3M and Scotchgard: "Heroes of Chemistry" or a 20-year coverup?
Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
article not dated [probably spring, 2000]
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/scotchgard/1.asp
3M and Scotchgard: The chemicals still at large
"In the wake of 3M's "voluntary" phaseout, the $2.5 billion
fluoropolymer industry is on alert. Two groups of compounds
related to PFOS are now under intense scrutiny by EPA. "
not dated
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/scotchgard/8.asp
3M and Scotchgard: PFOS in 'clean' blood samples
"It was a complete surprise that it [PFOS] was in the
blood bank supplies."
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/scotchgard/2.asp
=================
Google Searched the web for:
PFOS Scotchgard OR ScotchGuard. Results about 445
What ever happened to 3M's Scotchgard ?
BBC: "Scotchguard - the manufacturers of fabric and
carpet coatings that protect against soil, water
and oil, have discovered that some chemicals
in their products persist in the environment and in
the human body for a number of years."
On June 21 2000, an article in the Sacramento Bee
said 3M announced "last month" that the product would
be phased out within a year. 3M spokesman
Chris Welch said "We've looked and we don't think
there is any alternative that can replace Scotchgard
by the time it comes off the market."
"It could take up to seven years to develop
alternatives." he said.
The product was schedualed to come off the shelves
by the end of 2000.
The active ingredient in this Scotchgard
(and its other Protector products) is a
long rubbery fluorocarbon molecule that works its
magic by being very "sticky" on one end, so that it bonds
tightly to protein and other materials, and is very
"repellent" on the other end.
Most Americans now have it in their blood. "It's in
a lot of different locations." said Bill Coyne, senior
V.P. of R&D at 3M in 2000.
Perfluoroocatanyl sulfonate (PFOS), is the active
ingredient in Scotchguard which raised this stink.
The PFOS fluorocarbon molecule has an 8-carbon chain,
and so it is sometimes now called C8.
For nearly 50 years 3M has marketed Scotchgard, -- PFOS
was invented in 1953 while attempting to invent a new,
more inert rubber.
In 1997, 3M found PFOS in supposedly clean samples from blood
banks all over the world when trying to find a "control"
(uncontaminated) blood source. PFOS can be found in children,
in polar bears from Alaska, and in bald eagles from the
Great Lakes.
Traditional scans for persistent pollutants missed this exposure
for a long time because unlike most POPs, PFOS doesn't
accumulate in fatty tissue. Instead it binds to proteins.
Like the other fluorocarbon molecule, CFCs long banned for
destroying the ozone layer, PFOS were long thought to be
chemically so inert as to be biologically and environmentally
inactive. This inertness also means it is stable and does
not readily break down like natural biologically produced
molecules. They "don't decompose in nature. "
"scotchgard: a liver-damaging chemical that's in your blood"
- EPA internal memorandum, May 16, 2000:
"PFOS accumulates to a high degree in humans and animals.
It has an estimated half-life of 4 years in humans.
It thus appears to combine Persistence, Bioaccumulation, and
Toxicity properties to an extraordinary degree"
"to an *extraordinary* degree" ?
As one example;
* According to EPA's assessment of 3M data, PFOS caused
postnatal deaths (and other developmental effects) in offspring
in a 3M-run 2-generation reproductive effects rat study
(NOAEL of 0.1 mg/kg/day and LOAEL of 0.4 mg/kg/day).
At higher doses in this study, all progeny in first generation
died while at the LOAEL many of the progeny from the second
generation died. It is very unusual to see such second
generation effects."
About 35% of home use Scotchgard escapes into the air and
environment at the time it is applied. More is lost due to
normal wear and cleaning.
Scotchgard was one of 3M's most profitable product lines,
and accounted for $300 million in annual sales.
" ...the company producing PFOS products possessed
information hinting at its risks but chose not to share
their data with regulators or the public for years."
[for a detailed exploration of this history, see
The Chemical Industry Archives]
It is not widely known that Scotchgard is also widely used
for many things, such as to water-resist food containers, like:
* Microwave popcorn
* Fast food (e.g., chicken sandwiches and french fries)
* Pizza
* Bakery items
* Beverages
* Candy
* Cookies
* Candy bars
Recent ad for 3M Carpet and Upholstery Protector Scotchgard:
New Technology Formulation!
"Contains no PFOS (perfluorooctanyl sulfonates) or C8."
The new "safer" re-formulated Scotchguard's active ingredient is
a similar rubbery fluorocarbon molecule, but with a 4-carbon
chain, perfluorobutane sulfonate, called C4, or PFBS.
3M claims that while it too is easily absorbed into humans and
the environment, it is not as persistent in animal bodies, thus
it is more healthy.
In fact, 3M says the new C4-based Scotchgard is completely safe.
The company adds that it has worked closely with the new EPA
and has performed more than 40 studies, which are confidential.
The EPA won't release them.
end
============Some Online REFERENCES
Scotchguard Discontinued.(Brief Article)
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FVP/24_257/62895626/p1/article.jhtml
Scotchgard strikes back Book: Our Stolen Future
Our Stolen Future examines the ways that certain
synthetic chemicals interfere with hormonal messages
involved in the control of growth
and development, especially in the fetus.
http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/oncompounds/PFOS/2001-04pfosproblems.htm
3M looks to rebuild Scotchgard business
" ...Scotchgard is headed for places it hasn't been before,
in eyeglass lenses and in paint." May 28, 2003
http://www.ewg.org/issues/pfcs/20030606/pdf/PFBS_article.pdf.
3M and Scotchgard: "Heroes of Chemistry" or a 20-year coverup?
Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
article not dated [probably spring, 2000]
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/scotchgard/1.asp
3M and Scotchgard: The chemicals still at large
"In the wake of 3M's "voluntary" phaseout, the $2.5 billion
fluoropolymer industry is on alert. Two groups of compounds
related to PFOS are now under intense scrutiny by EPA. "
not dated
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/scotchgard/8.asp
3M and Scotchgard: PFOS in 'clean' blood samples
"It was a complete surprise that it [PFOS] was in the
blood bank supplies."
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/scotchgard/2.asp
=================
Google Searched the web for:
PFOS Scotchgard OR ScotchGuard. Results about 445