Commonly found chemicals used in textiles and packaging make children's immune systems less likely to be able to mount an effective response to ward off infections, according to a new study. Kids with more perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, in their blood stream were less likely to respond to routine vaccines. "The implication of this work is that everyday exposure to these chemicals makes us more vulnerable to infections," said researcher Alastair Hay of the University of Leeds. Hay and his colleagues found that a doubling in mothers' blood levels of PFC corresponded to a 39 percent drop in the diphtheria antibody concentration of their children at age five. Similar results were found for antibodies against both tetanus and diphtheria. "I don't feel comfortable with the compounds for myself and my family and would rather eliminate them," said Dr. Philippe Grandjean of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, who led the study and recommended parents may want to avoid microwave popcorn, and treatment of furniture, carpets and clothing with stain repellants to reduce exposure to PFCs. Apparently, the EPA is currently considering regulating PFCs (of course, it's been considering regulating Dioxin for about a quarter of a century). There are over 80,000 chemicals in the marketplace. Maybe a couple of dozen have been thoroughly investigated for their possible human health effects.