You hop into your car, turn on the ignition, and cruise down the highway listening to your favorite podcast (or your guilty pleasure music). But lurking beneath the surface of your dashboard, upholstery, and even the tires is an invisible passenger – and it’s not just your gym bag from last week. It’s PFAS, the forever chemical that’s found its way into almost every part of our lives, including our vehicles.
What Are PFAS and Why Should We Care?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals known for their durability. They resist heat, water, oil, and degradation. This is why they’ve been nicknamed “forever chemicals.” The problem? Once they’re made, they persist in the environment, eventually making their way out of the original product and into water, soil, food, and our bodies. Once PFAS are in your body, they don’t clock out at the end of the day. They linger.
PFAS in Vehicles: Not Just Under the Hood
PFAS aren’t just hanging out in a few specific parts of vehicles – they’re everywhere.
- Seats and upholstery: That stain-resistant coating on your car seat? Yeah, that’s likely PFAS.
- Dashboard and interior coatings: Heat-resistant and non-stick, these chemicals make sure your car’s interior doesn’t warp under the sun.
- Brake systems and tires: PFAS are used in brake linings and hydraulic fluids to improve performance.
- Wiring and insulation: Keeping your car’s electrical systems from shorting out in extreme conditions is crucial, which is why PFAS are often used to coat wiring. But this protective layer comes at a high environmental cost.
How Do PFAS Affect Us?
Even though PFAS seem like miracle chemicals for manufacturers, their impact on our health is anything but miraculous. Studies have linked exposure to PFAS to a range of health issues, including:
- Increased cancer risk including thyroid, kidney, and testicular cancers
- Liver damage, including elevated liver enzymes and potential fatty liver disease (steatosis)
- Interference with the body’s hormonal systems, including thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones
- Weakened immune responses, including reducing the effectiveness of vaccines and increasing susceptibility to infections
PFAS and the Environment: Driving the Wrong Direction
PFAS don’t just affect drivers, they’re wreaking havoc on the environment. Over time, PFAS can break off from surfaces or are released by tire and brake system wear. These PFAS particles find their way into the air we breath, the soil for our food, and the water we drink. These chemicals are so persistent that they’ve been detected virtually everywhere on Earth, from deep sea trenches to Mt. Everest.
Unfortunately, PFAS are not just used in vehicles, they are used in other everyday products such as non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, and even in food packaging.
Is There a Way Out?
Fortunately, some forward-thinking companies are looking for alternatives. In the same way car manufacturers shifted away from leaded gasoline, many are beginning to explore PFAS-free materials. But it’s a long road ahead. Removing PFAS from manufacturing processes is complicated – it often requires going back to the drawing board and thinking outside the box.
At Renegade Plastics, we’ve already made the shift. Our high-performance coated fabrics and materials are 100% free of PFAS and other harmful chemicals, which means you can finally sit comfortably knowing that your car interior isn’t hosting a chemical party. Our products are already used in commercial vehicle interiors, and could be used for a variety of automotive applications from upholstery and anti-slip truck bed liners, to easy-to-clean trunk liners and whatever applications are envisioned by your savviest industrial engineers.
Final Thoughts: Take the Wheel, Drive the Change
PFAS in cars and trucks may not be visible, but their impact certainly is. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just someone trying to get to work on time, it’s time we start thinking about what’s really driving our vehicles. By demanding safer materials and supporting companies that are ditching PFAS, we can reduce our exposure to these harmful chemicals and make our environment a little less toxic.
The road to a PFAS-free future might be long, but it’s worth every mile.
Want to know more about how Renegade Plastics is driving change in the automotive industry? Check out our PFAS-free fabrics and see how we’re leading the charge toward a cleaner, safer future for everyone.
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