THE ESSENTIAL
- Chemicals are believed to be present in large numbers in anti-fog products.
- Fluorotelomeric alcohols (FTOH) and fluorinated telomeric ethoxylates, contained in anti-fog sprays and wipes, could be endocrine disruptors.
Since the start of the pandemic, many people have used products to prevent fogging of their glasses when wearing their mask. Problem: These anti-fog wipes and sprays could pose a health hazard. This is what revealed a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology January 5.
“Taking into account their water-repellent properties, we sought to analyze the composition of four sprays and five anti-fog wipes”, sold on the Amazon site, the US researchers said. They identified fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) and fluorinated telomeric ethoxylates (FTEO), two types of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), in the nine anti-fog products. “Our tests show that the sprays contain up to 20.7 milligrams of PFAS per milliliter of solution, a fairly high concentration,” the scientists said.
Potentially harmful substances for the body
To date, few studies have been conducted on the effects of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) and fluorinated telomeric ethoxylates (FTEO) on health. But the study’s authors know that other perfluoroalkylated substances, such as perfluorooctanoic acid, are associated with impaired immune function, cancer, or thyroid disorders. Other research, seen by scientists, has suggested that if inhaled or ingested in large numbers, these substances can break down in the body into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or other types of PFAS, which are toxic.
“FTOH and FTEO could be endocrine disruptors but the only way to find out is to do in vivo tests on organisms. We have only performed laboratory tests,” specified the researchers. They added that more work needs to be done to truly understand the health effects of these substances, contained in anti-fog products.
“Due to Covid-19, many more people are using these sprays and wipes to keep their glasses from fogging up when wearing masks. They deserve to know what’s in the products they are using. “, the research authors concluded.