PFOAs & Teflon Health Hazards

There are ongoing teflon health hazards with non stick coated products which were on the Christmas list this year. I was unable to buy these with a clear conscience not because I categorically know it may be harmful but the biggest concern being that these chemical coatings may cause cancer. There is a lot of negative PR about PFOA and PTFE (perfluorinated chemicals) which brings the subject into a grey area of health concern as endocrine disruptors. It is documented that the fumes can be a health hazard over certain temperature for lungs and kidneys (of humans) and fatal to birds (teflon toxicosis). So here's a brief look at teflon coated cooking products.

Teflon Health Hazards

There does seem to be a danger from using teflon or other PFOA treated cooking products

• When heated above 250 to 350 degrees celsius from toxic fumes
• Fumes from teflon heated objects can kill birds
• When using teflon coated products for cooking it is recommended children and pets not be in the kitchen
• PFOA does accumulate in the human body and environment and is not biodegradable
• Levels of PFC chemicals are detected in most North American humans (PFOA is a PFC chemical)
• Long term health effects of PFOA are not known

Alternative cookware to Teflon

1. Buy glass cooking products such as pie and cake plates and casserole dishes
2. Buy stainless steel trays and pans
3. There is non-stick cookware available made with ceramic non-stick finishings
4. Cook with cast iron fry pans, dutch ovens and soup pots. How to “season” a cast iron pan
5. Try enamel ware (camping) kettles, oven trays and roasting ovens. These are lightweight and have been around a long time and are a base metal covered with a porcelain enamel
6. We are still using a heavy metal covered with enamel, crock pot after several decades

How to clean any cooking utensil (except cast iron)
After cooking, let dirty pot, pan, etc  cool, fill with hot water and a little liquid soap and let sit.
Clean when cool. That's it
Exception: I have not had much success cleaning a pot burnt with honey - Good Luck!

Teflon Heath Concerns:

1. Teflon is a PFC (perfluorocarbon) 
   
2. PFC's are Endocrine Disruptors
3. Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs) can be carcinogenic

However, humans and wildlife are exposed to a mixture of EDCs that act contextually. To explain this mindboggling complexity will require the design of novel experimental approaches that integrate the effects of different doses of structurally different chemicals that act at different ages on different target tissues. The key to this complex problem lies in the adoption of mathematical modeling and computer simulations afforded by system biology approaches. Regardless, the data already amassed highlight the need for a public policy to reduce exposure to EDCs

Quote from US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health on Endocrine Disruptors

Ultimately the choice is yours. Many people buy and use teflon cooking products but PFOA's are found in a range of products. PFOA / teflon is widely used in upholstery, plastic bottles, dental floss, pesticides, food packaging, metal food cans, clothing, detergents, some carpeting (as flame retardant), food and toys, electric wires, floor wax, waxed paper and as a water and oil repellent.

Our decision has been to return to glass, stainless steel and our old cast iron cooking ware; teflon cookware was not purchased for a Christmas gift.

Notes

• Newer cookware not using PFOA's are labelled “PFOA and PTFE free”
• If your teflon coated pan is scratched and peeling my personal recommendation would be to replace it although it seems it is the fumes and not pieces of the coating that are toxic
• Some ceramic or other non teflon type cook ware may have to be replaced more often
• Read teflon coated product labels to see if using metal cooking utensils is acceptable

Suggestions to cut down exposure to PFC's

1. By not using pesticides in your home
2. Reduce the amounts of high "fatty" foods in your family diet, such as cheese and meat, etc
3. Refrain from heating food in plastic containers in the microwave
4. Check out your children's toys, daycare and school for PFC chemicals and pesticide use

Links & References

• Teflon has been around for decades
• PFOA is Perfluorooctanic acid
• PTFE is Polytetrafluoroethylene
• What is PFC (Perfluorinated chemicals) and food it is found in from Health Canada
• PFC's bioaccumulate in humans and wildlife for up to 8.5 years
• Explanation of bioaccumulation
• CAP article on WHO Report on Endocrine Disruptors
• Here is the Dirty Dozen List of Endocrine Disruptors including PFCs
• Good read on what is an Endocrine Disruptor
• "International Efforts to Reduce Perfluorocarbon (PFC) Emissions from Primary Aluminum Production" - EPA Report

Updated: March 2016