为什么我们不能逃离“永远的化学品”

为什么我们不能逃离“永远的化学品”

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.

全氟烷基物质(PFASs)是一种化学物质，几十年来一直被用于使产品更耐污、防水或不粘。它们被用在炊具上，防止食物粘在锅碗瓢盆上。它们被添加到衣物中，比如防雨装备，以帮助抵抗污渍和水，用于扑灭野火的泡沫，用于家具和地毯，使它们能抵抗污渍和液体。PFASs甚至被用于快餐和其他包装，以防止食物粘在一起。这些“永恒的化学物质”——之所以这么叫是因为它们会在我们的身体和环境中存留多年——无处不在。

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.

美国食品和药物管理局(FDA)也对它们的使用发出了警告，并在4月份证实这些化学物质已经进入了我们的食品系统。这一警告是基于该机构正在进行的化学品和美国食品供应调查的初步结果。据cnn报道，正在进行的工作将会在本周公布的一个更新网站上展示。

'We are decades behind in the research' on PFASs

我们对PFASs的研究落后了几十年

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.

格兰德吉恩说，由于这些化学物质几十年来以多种方式被使用，它们在环境中已经根深蒂固。发表在《环境科学与技术快报》(Environmental Science & Technology Letters)上的一项研究发现，至少有600万美国人的饮用水中PFAS的含量超过了建议水平。

The link between PFASs and obesity

PFASs和肥胖之间的联系

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月发表在《公共科学图书馆·医学》(PLOS Medicine)杂志上的一项研究发现，血液中PFASs含量较高与节食后体重增加有关，尤其是对女性而言。这些化合物被称为“致肥物质”，因为它们可能扰乱正常的新陈代谢，并增加你的体重增加的风险。研究发现，体内PFAS浓度较高的人，其静息代谢率(RMR)也较低，这意味着他们在日常活动中消耗的热量较少。

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.

为了减少对PFASs的暴露，Grandjean建议给你的城市水厂打电话，以确保你的水不含有这些化合物的不可接受的水平。(尽管格兰德金指出，他认为环保局规定的“安全”上限(每万亿分之70)过高。)他建议用瓶装水饮用和烹饪，或者安装一个活性炭过滤器。

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，格兰德吉恩说，在购买从雨具、防水鞋到地毯和炊具等各种物品时，一定要注意。做好调查，寻找标签，询问产品是否用过PFASs。