Well, we’re mostly talking about PFAs here. Those are used in many industrial processes. So they’re often in products where no one actually want them. But some machine during manufacturing used them hence they’re there. Not much, but because they’re extremely stable and “not much” can accumulate over a human’s lifetime.
As far as I understand it, they’re mostly used because they’re hydrophobic. I.e. prevent water from sticking. Hence if you want to buy a product that’s meant to contain some PFAs, you’ll find them in stuff like ski wax and anti-fogging sprays for glasses.
The link in the article mentions six groups of substances (anilines, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mycotoxins and PAHs) as known or presumed carcinogenic. Another list gives suspected carcinogenic chemicals. These include acrylamide and some aprotic solvents, benzophenones, flame retardants, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pesticides. Benzene, formaldehyde and silica dust, which are used widely, are not on this list but are associated with leukaemia and lung cancer.
So what are these hazardous products that are currently on the market?
Well, we’re mostly talking about PFAs here. Those are used in many industrial processes. So they’re often in products where no one actually want them. But some machine during manufacturing used them hence they’re there. Not much, but because they’re extremely stable and “not much” can accumulate over a human’s lifetime.
As far as I understand it, they’re mostly used because they’re hydrophobic. I.e. prevent water from sticking. Hence if you want to buy a product that’s meant to contain some PFAs, you’ll find them in stuff like ski wax and anti-fogging sprays for glasses.
The link in the article mentions six groups of substances (anilines, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mycotoxins and PAHs) as known or presumed carcinogenic. Another list gives suspected carcinogenic chemicals. These include acrylamide and some aprotic solvents, benzophenones, flame retardants, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pesticides. Benzene, formaldehyde and silica dust, which are used widely, are not on this list but are associated with leukaemia and lung cancer.
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/environmental-burden-of-cancer/chemicals
No idea about concrete products though. PFAS is in frying pans (teflon) and Gore-Tex at least.