🌍 “Forever Chemicals” in Your Footwear? Why PFAS Have No Place in Your Routine – and What to Choose Instead

• 💡 Did you know your shoe care spray might contain chemicals that don’t break down in nature for over 1,000 years?

❓ What are PFAS, PFOA, and PFCs – and why are they called “forever chemicals”?

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), including PFOA and PFCs, are synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s to make products water-, stain-, and grease-resistant – like shoes, tents, outdoor jackets, and protective sprays.

The problem? PFAS don’t degrade naturally, they accumulate in the human body and ecosystems, and are linked to serious health risks:

• 🌡 Hormonal disruption
• 🚼 Fertility and developmental problems
• 🛡 Weakened immune function
• 🎗 Increased risk of cancers (e.g. kidney and testicular)

📚 Sources:

• OECD – PFAS in the Environment
• EPA – Health Effects of PFAS
• ECHA – PFAS Restriction Proposals
• WHO – PFOA and PFOS Factsheet

❓ How do PFAS end up in our everyday lives—especially through care products?

You’ll often find PFAS in:

• Waterproofing aerosol sprays
• Shoe and outdoor gear care products with “protective coatings”
• Water-resistant clothing, non-stick pans, cosmetics, and even food packaging

These substances can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or persist in indoor air and water.

📊 A 2020 study found that 38% of tested consumer products contained PFAS, including shoe sprays and fabric protectants.

Source: Green Science Policy Institute – PFAS in Consumer Products

❓ Why are aerosol-based products especially problematic?

In addition to PFAS, many sprays contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to:

• 🌬 Air pollution
• 😮💨 Respiratory irritation
• 🧃 Waste and packaging problems (metal canisters, propellants)

PFAS + Aerosols = A particularly toxic combination.

📚 Source: Green Science Policy Institute – PFAS in Sprays

❓ How can you reduce your exposure to PFAS?

Here’s what you can do:

✅ Check product labels – avoid anything listing PFAS, PFOA, or PFC
🚫 Ditch aerosol sprays
🌿 Choose natural, biodegradable, water-based alternatives
📢 Raise awareness – small choices have big impacts

📚 EPA – Steps to Reduce Your Risk

❓ What are safe PFAS-free alternatives for shoe care?

Topi Natural offers a safer, smarter choice: handcrafted, PFAS-, PFOA-, and aerosol-free care products made in Estonia using biodegradable natural ingredients.

✅ Why Topi Natural?

• Water-based and breathable
• Odorless, colorless, and 98.3% natural
• Safe for people and planet
• Made in Estonia using traditional small-batch methods

🔹 Featured Product: Natural Repel

A water- and dirt-repellent spray that is:

• Completely PFAS/PFOA/PFC-free
• Biodegradable and non-toxic
• Suitable for most materials (leather, suede, textile, canvas)

👉 Discover Natural Repel