Why Teflon is a Sticky Decision

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Why Teflon is a Sticky Decision

Teflon FAQ

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	By Anna Roumiantseva		Pressure Cooker/Canner Price: $43.00		Green Kitchen Storage Price: $39		Skoy Cloths 4-pack Price: $6.50

Green Kitchen Products

By Anna Roumiantseva

Pressure Cooker/Canner

Price: $43.00

Green Kitchen Storage

Price: $39

Skoy Cloths 4-pack

Price: $6.50

This article was provided with permission by Anna Roumiantseva with McGill University who is organizing an anti-teflon campaign.

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It's time to consider the better alternatives.

Teflon which is officially known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was invented accidently when attempting to make a new CFC refrigerant (a class of cooling chemical compounds that is now known to deplete ozone). It is used commonly in cookware because of its nonstick properties, making pots easy to clean. It is also used in a slightly modified form to keep stains off carpets and clothing as well as in food packaging (for example microwaveable popcorn).

What are the environmental risks of Teflon?

Teflon off-gassing studies show that at the temperatures of conventional kitchen appliances, Teflon chemicals break apart to form the following particulates and gases:

· Two chemicals linked to cancer or tumors in laboratory studies (PFOA and TFE)
· Two chemicals that are potent global warming gases (PFB and CF4)
· Two chemical warfare agents (PFIB and MFA)
· A chemical analog of WWII nerve gas phosgene (COF2)
· At least two chemicals that have widely contaminated the world (PFOA and TFA), one currently undergoing a rigorous safety review at the Environmental Protection Agency (PFOA)
· Four gaseous chemicals and some components of the particulate matter that are highly persistent environmental pollutants, that likely never break down in the environment (TFA, PFOA, CF4, PFB, and the perfluorinated particulate alkanes)
· Four chemicals that are considered highly toxic relative to most other industrial chemicals (PFIB, MFA, COF2, HF).
The environmental effects of this substance are therefore very serious. Furthermore, Teflon not only pollutes the air but also contaminates the water system as particles are washed off when the cookware is cleaned after use. As well, the environment around the manufacturing plants suffers, which is particularly harmful to birds.

How does Teflon affect human health?

The reason Teflon cookware is so easy to clean is because its ultrafine particles are easily degradable, with thin layers coming off the pan during cooking. This is what makes it “nonstick”. More specifically, this decomposition begins to happen when the pan is heated above 260 °C (500 °F), causing the tiny particles to get inhaled/ingested and embedded deep inside the lungs and digestive system. 260 °C is a fairly common temperature in cooking, making it unreasonable to expect consumers to use the cookware without overheating it above that initial warning point. In a demo done by 20/20 news, a piece of bacon was just getting crisp when the Teflon pan reached that temperature.

The short-term effects of these ingested Teflon particles are flu-like symptoms in humans (headaches, chills, backache, and temperature between 100 and 104 degrees.) However, for smaller animals (and specifically for birds), they are lethal. In the long-term, the various chemicals that make-up Teflon (for instance ammonium perfluorooctanoate, or C-8 for short) have been linked to cancer, organ damage and other health effects in tests in both laboratory animals and humans.

However, the health risks aren’t limited to the consumers. The Teflon industry has reached the 2 billion per year mark, and the health of the workers producing it is also severely compromised. One of the biggest consequences of working in such extensive exposure to the substance is an extremely high incidence of birth defects among their children.

What is the substitute for Teflon?

Many chefs prefer copper pans because they conduct heat quickly. Another substitute is cast iron pans – they pose no health problem and after they've been used a few times, they develop a natural slippery surface that's nearly as good as a non-stick Teflon pan. Also, consider stainless steel and pressure cookers if you want the most environmentally sound cookware.

Additional Thoughts

In January 2006, DuPont, the only company that manufactures PFOA in the US (a chemical used in the production of Teflon, and classified as a likely human carcinogen) agreed to eliminate releases of the chemical from its manufacturing plants by 2015, but did not commit to completely phasing out its use of the chemical. DuPont maintains that there should be no measurable amount of PFOA on a finished pan, provided that it has been properly cured. However, a 2005 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study detected PFOA in finished PTFE products including PTFE/Teflon cookware. Furthermore, a February 2007 New York State Department of Health study detected PFOA in the gaseous state originating from new nonstick cookware and microwave popcorn bags. Therefore, we hope that if the public is more aware of the dangers of Teflon, there will be a bigger push for its regulation from the authorities.