Il-PFCs (per- u kimiċi poli-fluworinati) huma kollha kimiċi magħmulin kompletament mill-bniedem-li ma jseħħux b'mod naturali. Dawn huma komunement użati fil-kisi DWR (repellent ilma durabbli) u membrani reżistenti għall-ilma. Dawn il-fluworokimiċi ilhom jintużaw għal xi żmien biex jagħtu proprjetajiet reżistenti għall-ilma u t-tebgħa tal-ħwejjeġ. Sa ftit żmien reċentement kien hemm ftit alternattivi u għalhekk deher ovvju li l-PFCs kienu ta’ ħsara għall-ambjent, aktar enfasi waqgħet fuq l-użu tal-PFCs, speċjalment fis-settur tal-Attivitajiet ta’ Barra.
Hemm ħafna sorsi ta 'PFCs fis-settur tal-ħwejjeġ iżda aktar minn nofs il-kimiċi PFC l-aktar perikolużi jintużaw għal ħwejjeġ reżistenti għat-temp. Il-fatt li ninsabu fil-beraħ u nifhmu l-ambjent aktar minn ħafna għandu jkun raġuni tajba għad-dilettanti kollha tal-beraħ biex jieħdu nota u jaġixxu fuq din l-informazzjoni kemm jista 'jkun. Bil-mewġa ta 'sostenibbiltà u kwistjonijiet li ma jagħmlux ħsara lill-ambjent qed jiksbu appoġġ u kopertura aktar popolari huwa żmien ideali għall-kumpaniji biex jitfgħu l-piż kollu tagħhom wara l-iżviluppi f'dan il-qasam.
The awareness surrounding the effects of PFC's has grown as more research has been carried out. Once released into the environment PFCs break down very slowly; they can remain in the environment for many years after their release and are dispersed over the entire globe. They can affect both the wearer of the garment and the environment when it washes or rubs off jackets. It has accumulated in measurable levels in snow, ice and water around the world. For some PFCs there is evidence that they cause harm to reproduction, promote the growth of tumors and affect the hormone system.
For more information on the wide reaching impacts of PFCs Greenpeace carried out some extended research and the publication 'Footprints fil-Silġ' details this truly global issue. From research like this pressure is starting to mount on outdoor brands particularly to lead the way in eliminating the use of PFCs but the problem of finding a high performance, waterproof alternative has been a stumbling block.
