The dangers of Teflon
by Lydia Diaz
The dangers of Teflon, a chemical which is used to coat non-stick cookware and other surfaces, has recently come to light. Teflon is manufactured by DuPont. It contains C8, which is a likely human carcinogen, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Although studies were conducted on animals, it indicated a carcinogenic potential in humans. Moreover, DuPont is facing litigation over the fact that it withheld information about the dangers of C8 from regulators and from the public. DuPont has denied that C8 causes cancer in humans. Residents of Parkersburg, West Virginia, where Teflon is made, are concerned. There, Dupont has disposed of large amounts of C8 waste, which has made its way into drinking water.
Evidence has shown that scratched Teflon cookware, when heated, has the potential to kill birds. Chemicals are released into the air during heating, specifically perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The respiratory system of birds is very sensitive to gases (the reason why canaries were used in coal mines). If their lungs are affected, who what guarantee do we have that they don't harm human lungs?
To underscore the growing concern over this product, the EPA instituted a "global stewardship program" to reduce PFOA emissions, totally eliminating it by the year 2015. Dupont has signed up for the new program, underscoring the fact that something can be done about teflon-coated cookware.
According to E-magazine, Dupont has announced that it will be phasing out the chemical PFOA from production.
If you have scratched Teflon-coated cookware in your possession, throw it out! If you still wish to use your cookware, it's important not to use metal utensils. Use wood, rubber, or plastic to avoid scratching the surface. Make certain that you're not heating the pan above 350 degrees, when gases pose a greater danger.
What many don't realize is that teflon isn't only found in non-stick pans. It's also used in Stainmaster carpets, Gore-tex clothing, and Silverstone. Moreover, workers at Dupont factories are exposed to C-8 at much higher levels than the average population. According to an
ABC News article about Teflon,
woman workers had been found to have unusually high levels of C-8 in their bloodstream, and a number of them gave birth to children with unusual birth defects.
The fact that chemical giants like Dupont find it acceptable for consumers to accumulate chemicals in their bloodstream, and state that they pose no harm, is irresponsible at best.
Are there alternatives
There is a company in Mondavio, Italy, that has been producing a professional line of ceramic-coated cookware for over 100 years. It is called Ceramica, and it utilizes nanotechnology to avoid emiting fumes the way teflon does. You can now order it online by going to
gocookware.com.
Recently, a study showed that companies knew about the dangers of teflon decades ago, but said nothing. Read about it at the
Star-Tribune article about 3M and teflon.
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