@@medimalismus lmao Yvon created a monster and had to let go, there is no way they can counteract whatever they have done to produce the amount of shit consumers/investors are expecting from them. The euros dropped goretex YEARS ago and patagucci still the only mayor "environmentally responsible" brand to keep on working with them, military contract or just business reasons, they just dont care enough as they want you to believe.
@@medimalismusPatagonia's current range is 99% PFAS free by fabric weight. Their H2No membrane is PFAS free. If I'm not mistaken, the remaining 1% is mostly down to some submersible products or some zippers.
Not sure if I am able to express myself properly in English as I am Dutch. I'm a projectleader in soil and groundwater remediation in The Netherlands. We have a massive PFAS problem due to some large PFAS and GenX producing factories either in The Netherlands or in the countries around us that are close to the bigger rivers. All those rivers cross through The Netherlands towards th North Sea. But we have set limits on what we allow in the soil and water, but also have put research on what the humane risk level is. It has been set on: 59ug/kg PFOS in soil 60ug/kg PFOA in soil 57ug/kg GenX in soil 9,9 ng/l PFOS in water (including consumption) 20 ng/l PFOA in water (including consumption) 330 ng/l GenX in water (including consumption) There is a lot of research going on, on how we can destroy the strong molecular chains of PFAS. Slowly we are seeing aucceses in those research. Like the company Groundwater Technology in Rotterdam is getting some positive results in that field. PFOS hasn't been allowed to use since 2017 here, for one exception. Firefighters at chemical plants and at airfields are allowed to use foam with PFOS because there hasn't been an alternative found yet for controlling the extreme temperatures that come with fires at chemical plants and aircrafts.
Honestly, the research into enzymes (and other methods) to break down chemicals and pollutants like this is beginning to look like the only thing that can possibly turn things around for the better. I hope the research continues and a useable option is found for such cleanup.
When a Dutch person questions their English and proceeds to write or speak in perfect English you know they are not lying about being Dutch 😆🫡 (ps. Inderdaad er tering sooi met PFAS in ons grondwater.
@@edouhoekie Dank je voor het compliment. Toch blijf ik het soms lastig vinden mezelf vanuit mijn vakgebied correct te uiten in het Engels. Lastiger dan met gewoon regulier gesprekstof. PFAS is echt een groot probleem, maar gelukkig staat de wetenschap niet stil en zien we wel resultaten in de onderzoeken 😄
As a backpacker whose day job is in the field of environmental cleanup (including PFAS), I can say this video was very well researched, clearly presented, and refreshingly accurate. I'll be sharing it widely!
I love when content creators are sometimes criticize and not always sympathize the big companys. I think this is the way we could change some things little by little. Thank you, that you collected some samples while hiking 👍. Maybe your best video so far.
Brilliant video Steven. Like you I try to do my bit when it come to making ethical choices on gear. But it tough. Unless we go back to traditional heavy materials I don’t know what the answer is. I love my paramo by the way. 👍🏻
Thanks Paul. Love your channel! First thing I noticed about Paramo was how heavy it is 😅. Your “side of the pond” has done a better job with PFAS than we have. There is a lot of catching up to do.
@@MyLifeOutdoorsthe problem is the ocean doesn’t care from which side the bad stuff is coming. Neither do clouds that can carry evaporated stuff to the other side of the globe. So until no one puts bad stuff in the water, it’s a problem for everyone.
You just keep rocking that Paramo gear on your vids & the message will get out there, bit by bit, to your audience. Hard times require difficult choices dude, but we can do it. I love my paramo & vivo's too. Peace, love & happy trails
My two cents is this: 1) Thank you for the awareness. It is good to recognize a long-standing problem for what it is. 2)Let's make sure we reward progress, not perfection. Businesses are like children - if we reward improvement, we'll get more of it. Let's celebrate improvement and keep putting our dollars behind ethical progress and transparency. Relentless progress will always cover more ground than demanded perfection.
Dude your videos are on a completely different level than any other backpacking UA-camr out there. I'm glad we have folks like you raising awareness of our role in keeping our planet healthy. My company makes performance fabrics for use in multiple outdoor applications including shade/awnings, furniture, boating, windows and other uses. We have been on a journey to eliminate PFAS from our product portfolio and can say it is a technical challenge but not one that can't be overcome. In our industry, we have been a market leader for decades and (somewhat unsurprisingly) many of our customers are now asking for options that reduce/eliminate PFAS to the extent possible.
Great video! I test wastewater at work and we have just begun testing it for PFAS. It is scary of how prevalent these compounds are in the environment. I also know that you must have spent a lot of money running these tests. They are not cheap. Kudos to the companies taking a lead at not selling PFAS containing products.
Masterfully done, important message. I'm sure a lot of people who have influence in including PFAS's in our gear are watching and your work will have a positive impact on protecting our fragile environment. Your science is really good and very convincing. Keep up the great work!
REALLY appreciate you making a video on this. So many companies/products use insanely toxic chemicals in/on them, the entire industry is upside down. There's virtually ZERO accountability because there are NO regulations in the US, they don't have to tell you what's in their products. Another eye opener, watch the documentary "Stink!". Most have no idea what they are putting on themselves, or have in/around their household with their children - it effects everyone in their vicinity and destroys the environment. Even worse, the bigger picture is that all of these chemicals are mix/matching together in the air, water, bloodstream, etc., which is entirely unaccounted for and untested. We have no idea to what extent this is effecting everything/everyone beyond what we're just now seeing. Just wanted to add. PFAS is just one chemical on our clothes/products of so many others that have major health/environmental ramifications. Just like BPA in plastics, it's just a single chemical everyone latched onto, but there are hundreds in plastics that are toxic. There's a massive picture here I want people to see, change starts with awareness.
I had just read an article about the dangers of pfas in animals. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), in conjunction with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), has detected high levels of PFAS in some deer and wild turkey harvested and the state issued a “Do NOT Eat” advisory to hunters. The animals have dangerously high levels in their bodies. You really touched on something very important here, thank you.
I love this video so much. Thank you for bringing this to so many peoples attentions. It really shows a lot about you as a person and an outdoorsman. I think as outdoors folk we should all being trying to make positive changes in the environment so we can continue to enjoy it the rest of our lives, and pass it on to our children. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this video.
Thank you so much for looking into this and using your platform to spread the word! I just want to caution everyone about the sleight of hand industry uses when chemicals are banned: they often just switch to lesser-known chemicals with the same or even worse problems. Examples are substituting HCFCs for CFCs, bisphenol-S for bisphenol-A. We need to look for ways to need these things less. So instead of BPA/BPS, we now use stainless steel or glass water bottles. I’m not sure what the answer is for rain gear, but that’s what we need to look for.
Minor correction, Teflon is the brand name of PTFE, which is a type of PFAS (the S stands for substances, so there are a bunch of types of them). PFAS it a type of chemical, like an alchohol, or a salt, but it doesn't denote any particular chemical
The production value and quality are far above what one would expect on UA-cam. Bravo sir! I understand videos like this require a ton of work, but I thank you for it as it couldn’t be for a better cause. Thank you!
As an outdoorsy engineering student, I'm really thankful for people like you who try to keep these gear companies honest. Not to mention it's always fun thinking about how I'd test some of this myself. I'm thankful my rain jacket from Mammut is one such jacket where they didn't intentionally use PFAS in the product at all.
@@antiswat1 I would recommend looking up your year and model to get the most accurate answer. It's entirely possible the no PFAS stuff I read on their website is a bit recent given the history of the policies surrounding it.
Thanks for doing all of this research! I've heard of PFAS before but never knew how bad it is. This also makes me appreciate the brands striving to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
“The first guy to go through the wall... he always gets bloody. ALWAYS! This is threatening not just their way of doing business, but in their minds, it’s threatening the game. What it’s really threatening is THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THEIR JOBS. It’s threatening the way they do things… and every time that happens, whether it’s the government, a way of doing business, whatever, the people who are holding the reins - the ones that have their hands on the switch - THEY GO BATSHIT CRAZY.” - Boston Red Sox owner John Henry - from "Moneyball"
The moment big brands will feel like it’s bad publicity to not sell pfc free clothing and equipment maybe we’ll truly move forward. So we kind of have to shame them for it until it works.
Awesome video, this is something I've been aware of for over a year and I'm glad people are becoming more aware. I commute by bike year round and it was such a struggle to find anything waterproof that didn't rely on PFAs and other such DWR coatings.
Arcteryx is actually taking off all of their main jackets with PFAS and re-releasing revised PFAS-free models. Not sure why would you hate arcteryx if literally ALL big outdoors brands used the same materials, at least to some extent lol
This is the future of hardcore outdoor content. This is the only way we stop the wasteful and dangerous trends in our community. Bravo, sir. Well done.
Love your videos! Thank you for this one for sure. I happy some companies are starting to change things for the betterment of the outdoors. Also happy that people such as yourself are willing to put information out there.
Awesome video! For the people worried, don't throw away your gear just because it has PFAS, that will create a bigger problem than using it for as long as you can. Once its worn out, replace it with PFAS free gear.
Amazingly well put together Steven! The amount of effort to make this video is insane! Thank you for spreading awareness and going out of the way to perform tests. Cheers!
Another great video with crucial information that everyone should become aware of. Thank you for doing the leg work for us! And let’s express our concerns and preferences with our wallets.
Thanks for the education. Gore Tex nails it with my snowmobile clothes. Our food issues are appalling. Shame on the corporate executive, politicians, shame on humans
This is yet another example of the "future shock" effect described by author and futurist Alvin Toffler. We introduce technologies into our society before we ever thoroughly test them, and by the time their harmful effects become evident, it's too late to do anything about it. As informative and well-done as this video is, its ultimate conclusion is that there is nothing we can possibly do to eliminate what we've already created and continue to create. Trying to rid yourself of PFAS gear will perhaps make you feel good, but will accomplish next to nothing given the current toxic levels forever present in the environment. The damage has already been done - no going back, it seems.
Sadly you are correct. Unless consumers demand we eliminate PFAS or we pass laws banning it nothing will happen. Even then Other countries will still produce and use this stuff and it will just keep accumulating until the whole planet is a toxic wasteland
Points for mentioning Alvin Toffler and Future Shock, that book changed the way I looked at some things. Fortunately, there is research now on how to break down PFAS/PFOS into basic components to render it harmless and we may be able to continually reduce the amounts already in the stream.
Thank you, Steven, for diving deep into that huge research and delivering such a massive amount of knowledge. Oh, and thank you, Fred, for dedicating your entire life to Science! I'm always left open-mouthed by your testing rigs (wind resistance platform, 7ft coffin-sized freezer, puncture resistance twig, waterproofness pump, footprint tearing, jacket insulation), so I believe many of us would love to know how you built that homemade rain chamber.
I am very impressed with the level of detail and information that you provide in this video! I have to point out however that also the surface treatment for ensuring the wafer repellent behaviour of the jackets could be the cause for the contamination! For that layer I strongly suspect that PFAs are indeed used and it is exposed to the elements. If my suspicion is correct, then the highest source is not the layer inside the jacket, but this very thin layer, which we KNOW is getting removed and dispersed in the ambient. This is a very concerning problem and one that should be addressed very fast, because I am not sure if this surface treatment is regulated or properly addressed...
That was known for years. 15 years ago I bought a jacket with a PU based membrane exactly for that reason. The Scandinavians were (trying to?) replacing DWR based on PFOAs for a long time. The info was there for anyone caring to do as much as a simple web search.
in case you didn't know, and this could account for high blood levels "Fluorine Conversion to PFOS Fluorine, a highly reactive element, can undergo transformations in biological systems, including human cells. When fluorine is present in water, it can be absorbed and transported into cells, where it can react with various biomolecules. PFOS Formation One specific transformation of fluorine in cells involves the formation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOS is a perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that has been linked to various health concerns. In cells, fluorine can react with sulfur-containing molecules, such as cysteine or glutathione, to form PFOS. This reaction is thought to occur through a process called bioactivation, where enzymes in the cell facilitate the transformation of fluorine-containing compounds into more reactive intermediates. "
I love when you do these deep dive, technical videos. I worked in the bicycle business for 13 years between 1982 and my last stint, 2010. In those years that I worked I was constantly exposed to Teflon, which is one of these chemicals. I would wear surgical gloves, but the stuff is so slippery it would penetrate the membrane. I think I was the first non-medical person to wear those gloves for mechanical work in the entire country, dating back to the mid-1980s.. I caught a lot of teasing for it. But gradually come more and more guys that were teasing me would ask me if I could give him some gloves to use when they were going to do a nasty, dirty job like cleaning a chain or repacking bearings. I'm now 60. Eightyears ago my doctor told me I have very high cholesterol, liver disease and pre-prediabetes. If you saw me, I'm just as fit as you are. I'm not fat. And I don't eat poorly. I eat more organic foods than not. I shouldn't have any of these diseases. The stuff kills. It was invented by 3M and they knew it killed people. But they sold the product to DuPont, which heavily marketed as a miracle product, such as for non-stick cookware. (If you eat out a lot, you're eating food cooked with non-stick cookware. You might want to ask if they're using it before you make it a habit to feat there. Like 3M, DuPont execs and scientists didn't care that it killed people. They killed a lot of people. The executives and scientists of both companies who were responsible might be dead by now, but for the ones that were not, they should be prosecuted for mass-murder.
This is a bit of an exaggeration...PTFE is one of the only ones not to have been shown to cause a direct issue. There used to be PFOA in Teflon, they removed it. It does release fumes when heated to 500f or more, and that's the reason I don't think it should be used for cookware. It doesn't do the 'forever chemical in your blood' thing though.
@@geometerfpv2804 Again, it started all the way back in 1982. Actually, before that as I worked on my own bikes in 1976. And again, I have all of the classic health issues tied to Teflon poisoning. I have to ask - did you make or wholesale/distribute these horrible chemicals for a profession?
@@chriseidam7319if he's anything like me he's in a tertiary industry that uses fluoropoylmers and he isn't wrong on any of those points. The PFOAs that are truly dangerous were run out of the supply chain decades ago and were more of an issue with manufacturing PFAs then using them. That being said I think the time for scotch guard, for Tex and Teflon cooking pans is coming to an end. Plumbers tape, Teflon insulated wire and expanded PTFE bandages will remain
I normally enjoy these types of topics and they don't usually "get to me", but man this video gave me that impending sense of doom type of feeling, that hopelessness kinda feeling. But that's ok. We need to know, and man you do the best videos dude keep it up!
Thank you for this video. I was aware of the forever chemical and how it is everywhere, even in remote parts of the world. I learned, from your video, how much of the gear used outdoors has this to some degree. Thank you for bringing awareness. I love the variety of content on your channel and how it all comes back to the outdoors.
It’s in all of us, too. It’s quite sad. I’ve thought about doing a video like this, but no way it would hold a candle to Steven’s. I’m just glad the word is getting out. We have been given little to no information on these forever chemicals and they are everywhere. But hey, at least we have unbreathable outerwear that still gets us wet. Great job and video 🤘👊👏
Did you catch the tail end when I talked about my blood results. 1000 ppt. And with my two water showing over 5ppt doesn’t look like it’s going down anytime soon.
@@MyLifeOutdoorsmissed the very tail end. I was wondering. BTW - What you’re doing is quite important and I really appreciate you covering this topic. You have a lot of influence and I hope it makes a positive impact. Keep up the great work, Steven.
Incredible work as per usual. I would love to see the same test done on a PFAS free jacket and other brands such as Pertex. I understand GoreTex has a lot to answer for but the majority of cheaper brands or alternatives also need checking too. Please keep doing what you do!
Donate blood! There was a study done of firefighters who used peas in their flame retardant foam, and it was shown that donating plasma filtered out about half of the PF that they would normally have had in their blood. I try and donate every month, not only because it is good to donate, but also because it cleans your blood!
I’ve been struggling finding the best backpacking gear for women. I know it’s harder because you’re a man but you’re one of the few unbiased people on UA-cam! I’d love a Womens pack video. I wish I could try on UL packs! Thank you btw for this video.. clean living is what I teach and do every day! So this is an awesome vid Thank you!!
Great video as always Steven! I really love these types of video. I'd really love to see a video about your favourite trail as well though🙂 Could you bring us to your hike, please? 🙂
Thank you. This is one of my favorite hikes even though this hike didn’t go as planned: The ONLY Gear That Matters When You're COLD and WET! ua-cam.com/video/4tG6uf65mg8/v-deo.html
Very interesting video that goes beyond even the outdoors world. We all know deep down there's no such thing as leave no trace, but we should mitigate as much as we can.
Goretex been REAL silent since this dropped! 😅 Cancer survivor, hiker and outdoorsman here-I have been actively avoiding this shit like the plague. Hard to hike around the PNW in cotton but I’m working on downsizing all my gtx and DRW item by switching (hopefully) to waxed canvas. Still there are things to be said about waxes and parabins, but in my opinion this is a weaker avenue of exposure to carcinogenic substances than PFAS as I think it’s primarily respiratory that you’d probs want to avoid with burning/melting waxes. Great vid!
I saw a similar video a few years ago, it pointed out the forever chemicals that we have ALL LEFT in the very nature we purport to love. Gave away all my laminates and started wearing Fjallraven with wax. Like your other video points out, the whole waterproof thing is a scam, and if they don't wet through you sweat to death. So, in my mind staying dry is myth, drying out is the reality. My G100 with wax keep me fairly dry and it breathes better, way better. Mind you i live in Alaska, not some dry climate.
This has been known for years to anyone who cared. Most people just didn't. This isn't the only thing. Don't let media and legislation guide your opinion of things. Take control of your knowledge.
The questions you're asking and the tests you're doing are what the outdoor industry needs. I'd love if Arcteryx provided some comment.
During my research I saw Arcteryx is now selling one PFAS free jacket. I guess that’s a start
@@MyLifeOutdoors What about Patagonia? I mean they claim to be very environmentally responsible
@@medimalismus lmao Yvon created a monster and had to let go, there is no way they can counteract whatever they have done to produce the amount of shit consumers/investors are expecting from them. The euros dropped goretex YEARS ago and patagucci still the only mayor "environmentally responsible" brand to keep on working with them, military contract or just business reasons, they just dont care enough as they want you to believe.
Arc'Teryx are TOO BIG TO CARE
@@medimalismusPatagonia's current range is 99% PFAS free by fabric weight. Their H2No membrane is PFAS free. If I'm not mistaken, the remaining 1% is mostly down to some submersible products or some zippers.
If this man goes missing one day, we know why. Stellar work as always!
Feels weird to heart this comment. But the sentiment is still there. 😅
Holy Erin Brockovich, Batman! Time to start using pig lard for rain-proofing
I sincerely doubt that would happen. No offence, but too small of a fish. With that being said, he did better research than most. Very proud!
@@antine1279 thank you for taking this comment too seriously
@@MyLifeOutdoors Robert W Gore coming from his grave to find you
Not sure if I am able to express myself properly in English as I am Dutch.
I'm a projectleader in soil and groundwater remediation in The Netherlands. We have a massive PFAS problem due to some large PFAS and GenX producing factories either in The Netherlands or in the countries around us that are close to the bigger rivers. All those rivers cross through The Netherlands towards th North Sea.
But we have set limits on what we allow in the soil and water, but also have put research on what the humane risk level is. It has been set on:
59ug/kg PFOS in soil
60ug/kg PFOA in soil
57ug/kg GenX in soil
9,9 ng/l PFOS in water (including consumption)
20 ng/l PFOA in water (including consumption)
330 ng/l GenX in water (including consumption)
There is a lot of research going on, on how we can destroy the strong molecular chains of PFAS. Slowly we are seeing aucceses in those research. Like the company Groundwater Technology in Rotterdam is getting some positive results in that field.
PFOS hasn't been allowed to use since 2017 here, for one exception. Firefighters at chemical plants and at airfields are allowed to use foam with PFOS because there hasn't been an alternative found yet for controlling the extreme temperatures that come with fires at chemical plants and aircrafts.
Thank you for commenting on this from your background in remediation and perspective from another continent.
Yeah! This is what the internet is for. Sharing knowledge. ❤❤❤
Honestly, the research into enzymes (and other methods) to break down chemicals and pollutants like this is beginning to look like the only thing that can possibly turn things around for the better. I hope the research continues and a useable option is found for such cleanup.
When a Dutch person questions their English and proceeds to write or speak in perfect English you know they are not lying about being Dutch 😆🫡 (ps. Inderdaad er tering sooi met PFAS in ons grondwater.
@@edouhoekie Dank je voor het compliment. Toch blijf ik het soms lastig vinden mezelf vanuit mijn vakgebied correct te uiten in het Engels. Lastiger dan met gewoon regulier gesprekstof.
PFAS is echt een groot probleem, maar gelukkig staat de wetenschap niet stil en zien we wel resultaten in de onderzoeken 😄
As a backpacker whose day job is in the field of environmental cleanup (including PFAS), I can say this video was very well researched, clearly presented, and refreshingly accurate. I'll be sharing it widely!
This was years ahead of everything else on the "platforms". You are doing the right thing, thanks.
Thanks for all of the effort! This will affect my purchasing decisions.
I love when content creators are sometimes criticize and not always sympathize the big companys. I think this is the way we could change some things little by little. Thank you, that you collected some samples while hiking 👍.
Maybe your best video so far.
Brilliant video Steven. Like you I try to do my bit when it come to making ethical choices on gear. But it tough. Unless we go back to traditional heavy materials I don’t know what the answer is. I love my paramo by the way. 👍🏻
My Fav outdoor UA-camr commenting on my other Fav outdoor UA-camrs video.
This must be a dream . . 🤣
Thanks Paul. Love your channel! First thing I noticed about Paramo was how heavy it is 😅. Your “side of the pond” has done a better job with PFAS than we have. There is a lot of catching up to do.
@@MyLifeOutdoorsthe problem is the ocean doesn’t care from which side the bad stuff is coming. Neither do clouds that can carry evaporated stuff to the other side of the globe.
So until no one puts bad stuff in the water, it’s a problem for everyone.
Or China for that matter
You just keep rocking that Paramo gear on your vids & the message will get out there, bit by bit, to your audience. Hard times require difficult choices dude, but we can do it. I love my paramo & vivo's too. Peace, love & happy trails
My two cents is this:
1) Thank you for the awareness. It is good to recognize a long-standing problem for what it is.
2)Let's make sure we reward progress, not perfection. Businesses are like children - if we reward improvement, we'll get more of it. Let's celebrate improvement and keep putting our dollars behind ethical progress and transparency.
Relentless progress will always cover more ground than demanded perfection.
Dude your videos are on a completely different level than any other backpacking UA-camr out there. I'm glad we have folks like you raising awareness of our role in keeping our planet healthy.
My company makes performance fabrics for use in multiple outdoor applications including shade/awnings, furniture, boating, windows and other uses. We have been on a journey to eliminate PFAS from our product portfolio and can say it is a technical challenge but not one that can't be overcome. In our industry, we have been a market leader for decades and (somewhat unsurprisingly) many of our customers are now asking for options that reduce/eliminate PFAS to the extent possible.
Thank you very much. Im curious what company do you work with?
Great video! I test wastewater at work and we have just begun testing it for PFAS. It is scary of how prevalent these compounds are in the environment. I also know that you must have spent a lot of money running these tests. They are not cheap. Kudos to the companies taking a lead at not selling PFAS containing products.
Masterfully done, important message. I'm sure a lot of people who have influence in including PFAS's in our gear are watching and your work will have a positive impact on protecting our fragile environment. Your science is really good and very convincing. Keep up the great work!
REALLY appreciate you making a video on this. So many companies/products use insanely toxic chemicals in/on them, the entire industry is upside down. There's virtually ZERO accountability because there are NO regulations in the US, they don't have to tell you what's in their products. Another eye opener, watch the documentary "Stink!". Most have no idea what they are putting on themselves, or have in/around their household with their children - it effects everyone in their vicinity and destroys the environment. Even worse, the bigger picture is that all of these chemicals are mix/matching together in the air, water, bloodstream, etc., which is entirely unaccounted for and untested. We have no idea to what extent this is effecting everything/everyone beyond what we're just now seeing.
Just wanted to add. PFAS is just one chemical on our clothes/products of so many others that have major health/environmental ramifications. Just like BPA in plastics, it's just a single chemical everyone latched onto, but there are hundreds in plastics that are toxic. There's a massive picture here I want people to see, change starts with awareness.
I had just read an article about the dangers of pfas in animals. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), in conjunction with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), has detected high levels of PFAS in some deer and wild turkey harvested and the state issued a “Do NOT Eat” advisory to hunters. The animals have dangerously high levels in their bodies. You really touched on something very important here, thank you.
I live in NH and we must be in the same boat.
NH Fish and Game hasn't mentioned it being in fish only mercury, I can only imagine how much fish are affected.
Been wondering about the implications of PFAS for rainproofed gear for a while...glad you're using your platform to raise awareness!
This is exactly the kind of content I want to support monetarily, thank you for your research
Thank you very much! Is this the Michelle I know?
I love this video so much. Thank you for bringing this to so many peoples attentions. It really shows a lot about you as a person and an outdoorsman. I think as outdoors folk we should all being trying to make positive changes in the environment so we can continue to enjoy it the rest of our lives, and pass it on to our children. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this video.
The Erin Brockovich of the mountains.
Thank you so much for looking into this and using your platform to spread the word! I just want to caution everyone about the sleight of hand industry uses when chemicals are banned: they often just switch to lesser-known chemicals with the same or even worse problems. Examples are substituting HCFCs for CFCs, bisphenol-S for bisphenol-A. We need to look for ways to need these things less. So instead of BPA/BPS, we now use stainless steel or glass water bottles. I’m not sure what the answer is for rain gear, but that’s what we need to look for.
Minor correction, Teflon is the brand name of PTFE, which is a type of PFAS (the S stands for substances, so there are a bunch of types of them). PFAS it a type of chemical, like an alchohol, or a salt, but it doesn't denote any particular chemical
The production value and quality are far above what one would expect on UA-cam. Bravo sir! I understand videos like this require a ton of work, but I thank you for it as it couldn’t be for a better cause. Thank you!
I don't trust any of these companies who claim they did a 180 on PFAS. Especially this quick. I'll stick with canvas and wax.
yeah, me too.
Natural materials rule.
wonderful piece of journalism. thanks for shedding more light on this!
I'm amazed at the great things you put out here. You've done an incredible amount of work.
Wow, what a lot of effort to collect those various water samples! Good summary too.
As an outdoorsy engineering student, I'm really thankful for people like you who try to keep these gear companies honest. Not to mention it's always fun thinking about how I'd test some of this myself. I'm thankful my rain jacket from Mammut is one such jacket where they didn't intentionally use PFAS in the product at all.
Wait. I have mammut teiss jacket, it doesnt have PFAS?
@@antiswat1 I would recommend looking up your year and model to get the most accurate answer. It's entirely possible the no PFAS stuff I read on their website is a bit recent given the history of the policies surrounding it.
Thanks for doing all of this research! I've heard of PFAS before but never knew how bad it is. This also makes me appreciate the brands striving to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
“The first guy to go through the wall... he always gets bloody. ALWAYS!
This is threatening not just their way of doing business, but in their minds, it’s threatening the game. What it’s really threatening is THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THEIR JOBS.
It’s threatening the way they do things… and every time that happens, whether it’s the government, a way of doing business, whatever, the people who are holding the reins - the ones that have their hands on the switch - THEY GO BATSHIT CRAZY.”
- Boston Red Sox owner John Henry - from "Moneyball"
This is an excellent little documentary. Thanks for raising awareness about this subject.
The moment big brands will feel like it’s bad publicity to not sell pfc free clothing and equipment maybe we’ll truly move forward. So we kind of have to shame them for it until it works.
Awesome video, this is something I've been aware of for over a year and I'm glad people are becoming more aware. I commute by bike year round and it was such a struggle to find anything waterproof that didn't rely on PFAs and other such DWR coatings.
And I thought I didn’t need yet another reason to hate Arc’Teryx.
We need a “hiking gear video of the year award” 🥇
Arcteryx is actually taking off all of their main jackets with PFAS and re-releasing revised PFAS-free models. Not sure why would you hate arcteryx if literally ALL big outdoors brands used the same materials, at least to some extent lol
@@klaidaszaranka8950 and why can’t I hate all those outdoor brands?
Thanks for bringing this topic up again. Sure tickled my memory banks👍
Geeking out on stuff is my fav. Love this kind of content.
Thank you
This is by far my favorite video of yours to date. This is a huge issue that needs to be talked about.
Great work shared with all my friends.
This is the future of hardcore outdoor content. This is the only way we stop the wasteful and dangerous trends in our community.
Bravo, sir. Well done.
Love your videos! Thank you for this one for sure. I happy some companies are starting to change things for the betterment of the outdoors. Also happy that people such as yourself are willing to put information out there.
Well done! I hope that your shaking the bottle will leave enough worries in the industry to rectify their path…😮
Awesome video! For the people worried, don't throw away your gear just because it has PFAS, that will create a bigger problem than using it for as long as you can. Once its worn out, replace it with PFAS free gear.
All your work is much appreciated. One of the best outdoor channels out there. You should be on 60 minutes. 🙂
Amazingly well put together Steven! The amount of effort to make this video is insane!
Thank you for spreading awareness and going out of the way to perform tests.
Cheers!
Another great video with crucial information that everyone should become aware of. Thank you for doing the leg work for us! And let’s express our concerns and preferences with our wallets.
Thanks for the education. Gore Tex nails it with my snowmobile clothes. Our food issues are appalling. Shame on the corporate executive, politicians, shame on humans
Awesome content. Coming from a lab background, I appreciate the effort to test these topics to collect your own data. Great stuff…
Thank you for the support
This is yet another example of the "future shock" effect described by author and futurist Alvin Toffler. We introduce technologies into our society before we ever thoroughly test them, and by the time their harmful effects become evident, it's too late to do anything about it. As informative and well-done as this video is, its ultimate conclusion is that there is nothing we can possibly do to eliminate what we've already created and continue to create. Trying to rid yourself of PFAS gear will perhaps make you feel good, but will accomplish next to nothing given the current toxic levels forever present in the environment. The damage has already been done - no going back, it seems.
Sadly you are correct. Unless consumers demand we eliminate PFAS or we pass laws banning it nothing will happen. Even then Other countries will still produce and use this stuff and it will just keep accumulating until the whole planet is a toxic wasteland
I love that book.
Points for mentioning Alvin Toffler and Future Shock, that book changed the way I looked at some things. Fortunately, there is research now on how to break down PFAS/PFOS into basic components to render it harmless and we may be able to continually reduce the amounts already in the stream.
So impressed with this video. Look forward to seeing what you offer in the future.
Thank you, Steven, for diving deep into that huge research and delivering such a massive amount of knowledge. Oh, and thank you, Fred, for dedicating your entire life to Science! I'm always left open-mouthed by your testing rigs (wind resistance platform, 7ft coffin-sized freezer, puncture resistance twig, waterproofness pump, footprint tearing, jacket insulation), so I believe many of us would love to know how you built that homemade rain chamber.
I am very impressed with the level of detail and information that you provide in this video! I have to point out however that also the surface treatment for ensuring the wafer repellent behaviour of the jackets could be the cause for the contamination! For that layer I strongly suspect that PFAs are indeed used and it is exposed to the elements. If my suspicion is correct, then the highest source is not the layer inside the jacket, but this very thin layer, which we KNOW is getting removed and dispersed in the ambient. This is a very concerning problem and one that should be addressed very fast, because I am not sure if this surface treatment is regulated or properly addressed...
That was known for years. 15 years ago I bought a jacket with a PU based membrane exactly for that reason. The Scandinavians were (trying to?) replacing DWR based on PFOAs for a long time. The info was there for anyone caring to do as much as a simple web search.
Hiker chemical engineer turned woodworker here. Thank you for your efforts!
Thank you for the support! I really appreciate it
Great job. I don’t think I want to know how many forever chemicals are in my body. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for all the time it took to do this video! Stellar work!
in case you didn't know, and this could account for high blood levels
"Fluorine Conversion to PFOS
Fluorine, a highly reactive element, can undergo transformations in biological systems, including human cells. When fluorine is present in water, it can be absorbed and transported into cells, where it can react with various biomolecules.
PFOS Formation
One specific transformation of fluorine in cells involves the formation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOS is a perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that has been linked to various health concerns.
In cells, fluorine can react with sulfur-containing molecules, such as cysteine or glutathione, to form PFOS. This reaction is thought to occur through a process called bioactivation, where enzymes in the cell facilitate the transformation of fluorine-containing compounds into more reactive intermediates. "
Imagine scrolling UA-cam one night and actually some real hard hitting content. Bravo
I don't normally comment on videos but this was very educational, well done.
That makes this comment all the more meaningful! Thank you.
Great job on this one. You did a much better job covering this topic than me! I'm glad more people are talking about this
I saw your video. It was very well done! In fact you are one of the channels I have my eye on in the niche. I believe you will do well.
They are both equally important :) I needed a poncho for a rainy trip and went for one from Vaude thanks to you Oscar!
I love when you do these deep dive, technical videos.
I worked in the bicycle business for 13 years between 1982 and my last stint, 2010.
In those years that I worked I was constantly exposed to Teflon, which is one of these chemicals.
I would wear surgical gloves, but the stuff is so slippery it would penetrate the membrane.
I think I was the first non-medical person to wear those gloves for mechanical work in the entire country, dating back to the mid-1980s.. I caught a lot of teasing for it.
But gradually come more and more guys that were teasing me would ask me if I could give him some gloves to use when they were going to do a nasty, dirty job like cleaning a chain or repacking bearings.
I'm now 60. Eightyears ago my doctor told me I have very high cholesterol, liver disease and pre-prediabetes.
If you saw me, I'm just as fit as you are. I'm not fat. And I don't eat poorly. I eat more organic foods than not. I shouldn't have any of these diseases.
The stuff kills. It was invented by 3M and they knew it killed people. But they sold the product to DuPont, which heavily marketed as a miracle product, such as for non-stick cookware. (If you eat out a lot, you're eating food cooked with non-stick cookware. You might want to ask if they're using it before you make it a habit to feat there.
Like 3M, DuPont execs and scientists didn't care that it killed people. They killed a lot of people.
The executives and scientists of both companies who were responsible might be dead by now, but for the ones that were not, they should be prosecuted for mass-murder.
This is a bit of an exaggeration...PTFE is one of the only ones not to have been shown to cause a direct issue. There used to be PFOA in Teflon, they removed it. It does release fumes when heated to 500f or more, and that's the reason I don't think it should be used for cookware. It doesn't do the 'forever chemical in your blood' thing though.
@@geometerfpv2804
Again, it started all the way back in 1982. Actually, before that as I worked on my own bikes in 1976.
And again, I have all of the classic health issues tied to Teflon poisoning.
I have to ask - did you make or wholesale/distribute these horrible chemicals for a profession?
@@chriseidam7319if he's anything like me he's in a tertiary industry that uses fluoropoylmers and he isn't wrong on any of those points. The PFOAs that are truly dangerous were run out of the supply chain decades ago and were more of an issue with manufacturing PFAs then using them. That being said I think the time for scotch guard, for Tex and Teflon cooking pans is coming to an end. Plumbers tape, Teflon insulated wire and expanded PTFE bandages will remain
Thank you, Steven!!! I always love your scientific approach, and I appreciate that!😊
I normally enjoy these types of topics and they don't usually "get to me", but man this video gave me that impending sense of doom type of feeling, that hopelessness kinda feeling. But that's ok. We need to know, and man you do the best videos dude keep it up!
This is a problem I never knew existed... thanks for bringing it to light for me I will be sharing this with others!!! Well informed video thank you
Thank you for this video. I was aware of the forever chemical and how it is everywhere, even in remote parts of the world. I learned, from your video, how much of the gear used outdoors has this to some degree.
Thank you for bringing awareness. I love the variety of content on your channel and how it all comes back to the outdoors.
It’s in all of us, too. It’s quite sad. I’ve thought about doing a video like this, but no way it would hold a candle to Steven’s. I’m just glad the word is getting out. We have been given little to no information on these forever chemicals and they are everywhere. But hey, at least we have unbreathable outerwear that still gets us wet.
Great job and video 🤘👊👏
Did you catch the tail end when I talked about my blood results. 1000 ppt. And with my two water showing over 5ppt doesn’t look like it’s going down anytime soon.
@@MyLifeOutdoorsmissed the very tail end. I was wondering. BTW - What you’re doing is quite important and I really appreciate you covering this topic. You have a lot of influence and I hope it makes a positive impact. Keep up the great work, Steven.
You my friend have done an amazing job! GOD BLESS YOU!
Amazing effort put into this video!!!!!
..but go ahead and cook all your food in it while scraping the teflon surface. Tots safe.
Great video. Im getting rid of all my cookware asap.
Go ceramic
Just use a cast iron
Same
You've somehow managed to make a video about outdoor gear both interesting and disturbing at the same time.
Incredible work as per usual. I would love to see the same test done on a PFAS free jacket and other brands such as Pertex. I understand GoreTex has a lot to answer for but the majority of cheaper brands or alternatives also need checking too. Please keep doing what you do!
That is horrifying. A brilliant piece of investigation and storytelling for us. Thank you.
Donate blood! There was a study done of firefighters who used peas in their flame retardant foam, and it was shown that donating plasma filtered out about half of the PF that they would normally have had in their blood. I try and donate every month, not only because it is good to donate, but also because it cleans your blood!
I’ve been struggling finding the best backpacking gear for women. I know it’s harder because you’re a man but you’re one of the few unbiased people on UA-cam! I’d love a Womens pack video. I wish I could try on UL packs! Thank you btw for this video.. clean living is what I teach and do every day! So this is an awesome vid Thank you!!
My wife’s pack is the Osprey Eja 55 pro. I have the male version and also love it. It’s my best recommendation for women specific packs
Loved this video man. This video deserves to blow up!
Thank you for bringing this to light.
I appreciate someone speaking about this. I've been worried about this for a while now.
Great video as always Steven! I really love these types of video. I'd really love to see a video about your favourite trail as well though🙂 Could you bring us to your hike, please? 🙂
Thank you. This is one of my favorite hikes even though this hike didn’t go as planned: The ONLY Gear That Matters When You're COLD and WET!
ua-cam.com/video/4tG6uf65mg8/v-deo.html
Really appreciate all the effort put in this video! 🙌
Absolutely stella vid, much appreciate the effort & attention invested into this. Many thankies Steven
Your videos are awesome, getting better and better. Keep it up!
Very interesting video that goes beyond even the outdoors world. We all know deep down there's no such thing as leave no trace, but we should mitigate as much as we can.
Aww yes, another episode of Manmade Horrors Beyond My Comprehension on PFAS. Love it.
One of your best videos Thx for that massive amount of work!
What a great video. Thanks for the education!
Great video and provides a lot of thought to what we can do to help our shared environment.
Goretex been REAL silent since this dropped! 😅
Cancer survivor, hiker and outdoorsman here-I have been actively avoiding this shit like the plague. Hard to hike around the PNW in cotton but I’m working on downsizing all my gtx and DRW item by switching (hopefully) to waxed canvas. Still there are things to be said about waxes and parabins, but in my opinion this is a weaker avenue of exposure to carcinogenic substances than PFAS as I think it’s primarily respiratory that you’d probs want to avoid with burning/melting waxes.
Great vid!
This is excellent work. Thank you and please keep up the work.❤
Keep up the great work dude!
Thank you very much!
Love how you do these videos, everything very clear.
Perfect visualization/analogy with the 4 droplets in … 20 olympic swimmingpools..! 😱
Just send you a ‘SuperThank’ for the great video
Yes. And the pool I showed in the video isn’t even a full Olympic pool. It’s half the size. It’s mind boggling! Thank you for the support!
Thanks for making this video!!! I really needed to see it.
I saw a similar video a few years ago, it pointed out the forever chemicals that we have ALL LEFT in the very nature we purport to love. Gave away all my laminates and started wearing Fjallraven with wax. Like your other video points out, the whole waterproof thing is a scam, and if they don't wet through you sweat to death. So, in my mind staying dry is myth, drying out is the reality. My G100 with wax keep me fairly dry and it breathes better, way better. Mind you i live in Alaska, not some dry climate.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this video from Denmark
Thank you for the support!
This is stunning and your methods are impeccable.
Thank you for the effort you put into this.
welcome to the fight! im so glad you are spreading awareness! please keep it up!
This has been known for years to anyone who cared. Most people just didn't. This isn't the only thing. Don't let media and legislation guide your opinion of things. Take control of your knowledge.
Thanks, Stephen - that's exactly the reason why I changed to Paramo.
Thank you for doing this much needed research, sir.
Excellent video, well done and thanks for making.
Really well done video sir!
Appreciate the unique backpacking content 🔥