New Findings About Teflon IMPORTANT!

[Skyebirdsmom]

Teflon Finds Itself in Sticky Situation


Teflon, a waxy, white powder, has become a staple in household kitchens everywhere. But this nonstick "treasure" may do more harm than good.

Accidentally invented by a DuPont chemist more than 65 years ago, Teflon has been raising some health concerns. A chemical used to produce it, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been appearing in people and animals worldwide. One study showed that in 23 states, 96 percent of the 598 children tested, had traces of the chemical in their blood.

Scientists are conducting studies to answer one plaguing question: "Is PFOA a risk to human health?"

Many studies have been conducted using animals, such as rats, to discover the answer. The studies raised concerns regarding:

* Children's health and development
* Risks of liver, pancreatic, testicular and mammary gland tumors
* Altered thyroid hormone regulation
* Damage to the immune system
* Reproductive problems and birth defects

Scientists have also been collecting blood samples from people who live near DuPont plants located in West Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota and Alabama. The team's goal is to analyze the samples and discover if there is a link between PFOA, hormone levels and liver function.

Where Does This Chemical Come From?

Some possible sources of origin include:

* Teflon manufacturing plants polluting the water and air
* Heating Teflon cookware to broiling temperatures and releasing the chemical into the air
* Vacuuming stain-resistant carpets and emitting chemical infected dust into the air
* Washing stain- or water-resistant clothing, sending chemical coatings down the drain and into the environment

According to scientists, the biggest source of PFOA is not Teflon manufacture, but telomers, which is a related family of chemicals. Telomers are also made by DuPont and are used to produce grease- and stain-repellent coatings for take-out food boxes, carpets and clothing.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has accused DuPont of withholding health-related information about PFOA back in 1981, and could charge them with more than $300 million in fines. DuPont has already agreed to pay $108 million to settle a suit brought by residents near a company plant concerning the detection of PFOA in the drinking water. The company claims they have not broken any laws and have vastly reduced emissions of PFOA.

A suggested solution to preventing PFOA from showing up inside people is to simply stop making the chemical altogether. One toxicologist said, "We're already to the point where it is in people and getting near the point where there's significant risk."

Other well-known brand names containing PFOA include Stainmaster, Scotchgard and SilverStone.

Seattle Times October 1, 2004

Environmental Working Group October, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Why is it that that companies can develop chemicals that essentially persists forever in our environment and never be held accountable to the chemicals' effects on our health?

Instead of worrying if you are heating Teflon products to a dangerously high temperature in fear of emitting chemicals into the air, I think it seems wise to potentially avoid this material all together. However, Teflon products do offer a certain convenience so it would seem reasonable to use them as long as you did not use high temperatures or promise to throw the pan away as soon as it has a scratch in the coating as nearly all Teflon pans are coatings over aluminum pans and the aluminum is something that you absolutely do not want in your food.

Although aluminum pots are probably less problematic than other sources of aluminum like drinking water and antiperspirants, I personally would not use aluminum cookware.

The best cookware would be ceramic-coated metal as the ceramic is virtually inert and will not transfer any metal ions to the food you cook. It is also important to use a stable oil like coconut oil (vegetable oils are easily damaged by the heat) and not overcook your food.

If you decide to go against the warnings, and continue the use of harmful products, plan on discarding most all Teflon coated cookware after about one year of regular use. As soon as a scratch develops on the surface, this cookware will start to leach aluminum, as that is the typical metal used beneath most Teflon coated cookware.

To discover more on the topic of chemical exposure in cookware, I recommend reading Dr. Paul Connett's commentary on this study.

I also recommend Dr. Doris Rapp's highly important book, Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call, which thoroughly addresses our exposure to numerous chemicals everyday through the air we breath, the water we drink and the products we use.

[Stacey32]

thanks. interesting info.

[Lynjupiter]

That is interesting Thank you. I knew it would be a matter of time before they started linking PFOA to health problems.

I tell people who don't have birds how unhealthy teflon is. Our birds are just the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to that stuff.
Lynda

[David S]

Bingo, Lynjupiter..... makes me wonder since Teflon is SO toxic to the fids.. do we really want to use it for our selves and children? I've ordered my first set of stainless tonight.

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by Lynjupiter

That is interesting Thank you. I knew it would be a matter of time before they started linking PFOA to health problems.

I tell people who don't have birds how unhealthy teflon is. Our birds are just the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to that stuff.
Lynda

Yep, ever since they found Teflon to be toxic(and any other non stick too), I've been saying to myself and others..."if its toxic to the animals, what's it doing to us?" and no one's been listening. FINALLY, someone is addressing the problem!
Linda & HRC~

[David S]

I ran across this link earlier today.... it really pizzes me off. I think I may mount a one man vendetta where this stuff is concerned.... also, for Keev's protection, we might want to remove references to the "T" word.

http://hometown.aol.com/rks101954/page8.html

[Wags]

Originally Posted by David S

I ran across this link earlier today.... it really pizzes me off. I think I may mount a one man vendetta where this stuff is concerned.... also, for Keev's protection, we might want to remove references to the "T" word.

http://hometown.aol.com/rks101954/page8.html

I bet Dupont has many paid employees that are in charge of just writing these threatening letters. This is a common tactic used by corporations to protect their brands from any blasphemy in the media or public.

I don't think we should stop talking about Tephlon because its got a "TM" next to it. It would be like coca cola threatening to sue because we found out soda was cancerous and referred to most soda as coke, as many people do.

Well, they certainly don't care when people use the "TM"ed name to praise their products do they?

Dave

[jimpierce7]

I got to wonder if Duponts copy write on "Tephlon" is about to run out. All the hub bub on Freon (a Dupont product) started just before the copy write (copy right?) ran out...........great way to keep others from making your product eh?

[Thowraa]

The link to that leaflet given in that nice letter doesn't seem to work though. LOL

[Kevin]

Good read.... Is there a link to this article?