Teflon Chemicals are a Threat to Health

August 27, 2004

Dupont recently defended its position about partially

complying with federal reporting guidelines on the

health risks of a key ingredient found in Teflon.

The chemical giant has been criticized on many sides

for its decision not to release all the information it

compiled on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA),

a soap-like ingredient used in making non-stick

surfaces and materials. As a result, EPA has sought

fines up to $300 million, arguing the company failed to

inform the government and public about PFOA.

The concerns:

* DuPont concealed its own 1981 research showing

traces of the chemical in a pregnant worker's unborn

child

* Ten years later, the company failed to report

evidence that the chemical had contaminated the water

supply of 12,000 people

The son of a DuPont factory worker who was born with

only one nostril and other facial defects (he has had

30 operations) is one of eight families suing the

company over PFOA. Although the man recently married,

he and his spouse have opted not to have children in

case they inherit his condition.

Two DuPont experts argued an internal document about

elevated PFOA levels in childbearing workers and their

infants wasn't a toxicology report and didn't meet the

risk threshold that would've required contacting EPA.

In fact, one attorney claimed PFOA and other chemicals

were expected to pass through the placenta.

The company also believes EPA is unfair to apply

DuPonts internal guidelines to reporting requirements

of higher PFOA levels in local drinking water when the

government found three years ago levels could be

raised 150 times without posing a health risk.

However, a senior scientist at the Environmental

Working Group pointed out that PFOA, like other

fluorochemicals, is in people everywhere, never

breaks down in the environment and is

toxic at or near levels found in humans.

Another health issue, 'Teflon flu' causes aches

and pains when non-stick pans are overheated,

although a DuPont spokesperson said the physical

problems are temporary and pass quickly. Yet birds,

particularly small ones like finches and

cockatiels, can die in short order from those

kitchen fumes.

A British environmental minister has said his country

will eventually ban one chemical associated with PFOA,

perfluorooctane sulphonate, along with other European

countries and in line with the United States. One

expert on perfluorinated polymers noted the

PFOA in Teflon to be potentially as harmful

as perfluorooctane sulphonate, pointing out that

PFOA has been recognized as a rat carcinogen for decades.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61332-2004Aug12.html

Prior article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37628-2004Jul8.html

a

August 27, 2004

a,

20/20 or Dateline, or one of those news shows did a special about

this very subject several months ago. Thay has talked with pople

who had cockatiels that died for no apparent reason. Turns out in

both cases, they allowed water to boil dry and the heat was still on

the pot even though there was nothing left in it and the fumes where

enough to kill the birds. It doesn't take much for this to occur.

Interesting article though. Very informative too. Thanks for posting

it........Marina in Ohio

August 27, 2004

The " Teflon Flu " aches and pains makes me wonder if such chemicals can be a

trigger to autoimmune diseases. If overheating a teflon pan has fumes

deadly enough to kill birds, then is it possible that continual usage in

cooking can also build up these chemicals in our bodies?

I threw out all of my teflon and aluminum several years ago. My favorite

pan is cast iron, which gives me the benefit of getting extra iron. Since

I'm anemic, it is a plus.

a

> a,

>

> 20/20 or Dateline, or one of those news shows did a special about

> this very subject several months ago. Thay has talked with pople

> who had cockatiels that died for no apparent reason. Turns out in

> both cases, they allowed water to boil dry and the heat was still on

> the pot even though there was nothing left in it and the fumes where

> enough to kill the birds. It doesn't take much for this to occur.

> Interesting article though. Very informative too. Thanks for posting

> it........Marina in Ohio

>

August 27, 2004

a, please don't tell me to throw out my teflon. I bought some new

pots last December, and my brother talked me into buying some expensive

Cathalon ones because he had heard that teflon was harmful. I hate

those pots! The warranty is not valid if you wash them in the

dishwasher! Who wants pots that you can't put in the dishwasher? I just

go ahead and put them in there anyway, and they already are losing

their black color. I'm going to have to go out and buy some more Teflon

pots, LOL. Sue

On Friday, August 27, 2004, at 12:40 PM, a54 wrote:

> The " Teflon Flu " aches and pains makes me wonder if such chemicals can

> be a

> trigger to autoimmune diseases. If overheating a teflon pan has fumes

> deadly enough to kill birds, then is it possible that continual usage

> in

> cooking can also build up these chemicals in our bodies?

> I threw out all of my teflon and aluminum several years ago. My

> favorite

> pan is cast iron, which gives me the benefit of getting extra iron.

> Since

> I'm anemic, it is a plus.

August 27, 2004

Sue,

I'd never tell you to throw out your teflon. I can't get my own mother to

throw out her teflon LOL!

I love plain old stainless steel and cast iron. They last a lifetime. I

was replacing teflon frypans on a regular basis because the teflon was

peeling off. I've eaten a lot of teflon in my day before switching.

I have a few of the Cephalon pans that I can't bear to throw out because

they were so expensive. My favorite sauce pot lost it's coating because I

cooked tomatoes in it and it ate away the black coating. It was only then

that I found out it was ALUMINUM! I was heartbroken. I called the company

and complained about the black coming off and they sent me a TEFLON

replacement. Good Will got that one and I went and replaced it with a nice

heavy bottomed stainless one. I still use my Cephalon griddle for pancakes

only because I haven't found a replacement. It still has it's coating so

I'm not to concerned about it. It's used once a week and the coating isn't

teflon, so hopefully it's safe.

Once you learn to cook with stainless and cast iron, you don't need non

stick cookware. I was raised on stainless and cast iron, so I have an

advantage.

a

> a, please don't tell me to throw out my teflon. I bought some new

> pots last December, and my brother talked me into buying some expensive

> Cathalon ones because he had heard that teflon was harmful. I hate

> those pots! The warranty is not valid if you wash them in the

> dishwasher! Who wants pots that you can't put in the dishwasher? I just

> go ahead and put them in there anyway, and they already are losing

> their black color. I'm going to have to go out and buy some more Teflon

> pots, LOL. Sue

>

> On Friday, August 27, 2004, at 12:40 PM, a54 wrote:

>

>> The " Teflon Flu " aches and pains makes me wonder if such chemicals can

>> be a

>> trigger to autoimmune diseases. If overheating a teflon pan has fumes

>> deadly enough to kill birds, then is it possible that continual usage

>> in

>> cooking can also build up these chemicals in our bodies?

>> I threw out all of my teflon and aluminum several years ago. My

>> favorite

>> pan is cast iron, which gives me the benefit of getting extra iron.

>> Since

>> I'm anemic, it is a plus.

>

August 27, 2004