Commissioned by Greenpeace, two independent laboratories test for perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and other toxins in 14 outdoor clothing items sold for women and children. Products from Jack Wolfskin, The North Face, Patagonia, Kaikkialla and Marmot contained noticeable concentrations of toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). High concentrations of fluorotelomer alcohols, which are harmful to health, were found in jackets from Mammut and Vaude. “The outdoor clothing industry advertises its products featuring images of pristine nature. But harmful substances used in this industry are now found in the environment and in the blood of humans all over the world,” says Manfred Santen, Greenpeace’s expert on chemicals. The Greenpeace Detox campaign is calling on textile manufacturers to replace these chemicals with environmentally-friendly alternatives.