Purrfectplay

How a Helpful Little Molecule May Be Harming Your Pets

A recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) study revealed high levels of industrial chemicals in dogs and cats. This post covers one of these, Perfluorinated Compounds known simply as PFCs.

PFCs all have carbon "back bones" surrounded by fluorine atoms.  The fluorine-carbon bond is very very strong. These tightly bonded chains make stuff shiny and stain resistant. Gortex, Stainguard, and Teflon are all trademarked and patented forms of PFCs.

PFCs can be useful. Unfortunately the same quality that makes them useful creates serious problems. Their tough and hard to break carbon-fluorine bond also means they persist in nature and our bodies for years and years. Major studies have found PFCs in 90% of us. 

But still, what is the big deal? 

PFCs were just invented in the 1950’s, yet they are building up in the natural world at an alarming rate because they do NOT break down.  Studies show they have negative effects on us and our world, but—this is important—we still do not completely understand how and why these negative effects are occurring while they continue to build up. I find this scary.

Why PFCs are a big deal:

• They are carcinogenic
• They persist in our bodies for many years and in our pets who live shorter lives. What does this mean for our health and the health of our pets?
• Linked to behavioral disorders
• May decrease fertility and cause problems with reproductive organs
• Can impair hormone production 
• Associated with respiratory problems

Likely sources:

• Grease resistant food packaging --pet food bags, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes—you get the idea.
• Non stick cookware and foods cooked in them
• Stain proofed furniture, carpets, and pet beds
• House dust—because PFCs are super stable and long lasting, they eventually end up everywhere—even in the dust on your floor. 
• Personal-care products like shampoo, dental floss (gasp!), and denture cleaners

 What you can do to protect your pets:

• Avoid shiny grease resistant pet food and snack packaging
• Don’t choose stain/water resistant bedding, coats, or toys 
• Avoid pet care products made with Teflon or containing ingredients that include the words "fluoro" or "perfluoro" 
• Unless you can guarantee your skin care lotions, or perfumes don’t contain PFCs (and many do), wash your hands before you touch your pets 
• Avoid non stick cookware, utensils, or pet food bowls 
• Use wax coated paper as an alternative to PFC embedded products

If you would like to learn more:

http://www.toxiccharacters.org/?page_id=8  Great collection of articles

http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/existingchemicals/pubs/pfcs_action_plan1230_09.pdf

http://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/what-about-soil-resistant-finishes-like-scotchgard-goretex-nanotex-and-greenshield-are-they-safe/

Plastics 2: Adipates and Phthalates

Smile you silly pup!
Originally uploaded by something.from.nancy

Monomers are small chemical units that make up the conglomerate we call plastic.  Sometimes extra monomers are added to plastic that create unique functional characteristics.

Plasticizers are monomers which impart flexibility by interspersing around the polymer chains, preventing the creation of a tight bond. Without them, plastic is rigid and difficult to shape or mold.  Because plasticizers are basically lone agents and not tightly bonded to the structure, they can spin off the chain easily. With the addition of heat or friction (sometimes called “use”) these small units end up in the plastic’s immediate environment. This could be the ocean, your micro-waved lunch, or the water you drink. (this is, of course, a shortened list of possible transfer sites in our everyday lives!)

Two major families of plasticizers are the adipates and phthalates.  Adipates and phthalates do much of their damage through a process called “endocrine/ hormone disruption”. By mimicking or blocking natural hormones they disrupt the body’s normal functioning.  Because endocrine disruptors affect development of the body’s vital organ and hormone systems, infants, children, fetuses, kittens, and puppies are more vulnerable to exposure than fully formed adults. Some experts have implicated these hormone disruptions in our increased incidents of cancer, especially breast cancer.

Canada, most of Europe, and some major cities in the US ban the use of phthalates and other known hormone disrupters in the manufacturing of baby toys, teething rings, and baby bottles. The main types of plastics banned from these uses are:  Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which contains toxic monomers along with the plasticizers that make it pliable, and Bisphenol A (BPA) found in many polycarbonate plastics. BPA is found in plastic labeled as microwavable, lining beverage cans, and in baby bottles—to name just a few sources in your everyday life.

Why is this important for pet parents? Unfortunately a plastic toy squeaks almost always because it contains lots of plasticizers-- otherwise it would be rigid and non squeakable.  This is compounded by a puppy’s toothy warm mouth which provides warmth and friction. Here is one scenario on what can happen when a chew-happy puppy or cat plays with one of their colorful soft squeaky plastic pet toys.  (Also, for goodness sakes don’t wash your pets’ plastic toys in a hot soapy washing machine. Remember: friction, heat, UV light, and age are what sets free the little monomer units.)

Basically if it is flexible and made of plastic it is full of hormone disruptive plasticizers. This is simply a fact. Hormone disruption and health do not go together.  More on Hormone disruption in our next entry.

For additional and more specific info on plastics and your pets see (http://www.purrfectplay.com/newsletter-06-11.php) The links at the end are useful and... depressing. 

Plastics 1: A Primer

Ikea Toys
Originally uploaded by stellar678

Have you ever wondered about those bright plastic toys your pets love?  What are they actually made of?  What difference could a little toy make in their lives, anyway?  

The next blog posts will review  basic information about  “Plastic”. It is a dense subject so… dive right in!

Plastics are used widely. In fact, the use of plastic is so common we often don’t think about its presence. This commonness has rendered it nearly invisible. So—plastics are effectively everywhere, but what makes a plastic, a plastic?

Simply put, a plastic is a polymer. (poly= many & mer=units) Plastic= many units stuck together. This process is called polymerization.  Some think polymerization creates stable chains that are not biologically active. While this may be true when a plastic is actually made, this is definitely not true as time and use impacts its structure. To understand this degradation process a bit more information is needed.

Almost all polymers (plastic) also contain independent units called monomers. Sometimes these individual units have simply escaped the polymerization process. They might also be residue from techniques used to give the plastic a unique functional characteristic. Destructive processes such as chewing, grinding, aging, heating, and micro waving can also release monomers from the polymer chain. Monomers are biologically active, easily passing from the plastic surface to anything they come in contact with.

For our purposes you might think of degradation processes as: puppy teeth, a hot car, toys laying in the sun, an old favorite squeaky toy, kitties sucking on a brightly colored plastic fleece toy, etc.

But still, why should we care, there are sooo many things to worry about after all! It is just a really little monomer—what harm could it do? In mice, these little units have been shown to cause birth defects, fetal death and damage to liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive organs. Hormone disruption is a huge issue as well—especially for puppies.

Plastics 2 coming up!