There seems to be more evidence mounting in the ongoing Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA) debate. PFOA is used in the production of Teflon and other non-stick surfaces and is found in the packaging of candy bars, microwave popcorn, fast food packaging like french fry and pizza boxes, bakery items, drinks, paper plates, and a host of "stain resistant" products such as carpets. Other well-known brand names containing PFOA include Stainmaster, Scotchgard, SilverStone, Fluron, Supra, Excalibur, Greblon, Xylon, Duracote, Resistal, Autograph and T-Fal.
Although the DuPont Corporation has stated that PFOA is only used in the manufacturing process and should not be found in the final products, it must be noted that the chemical is found in the bloodstream of 95% of American men, women, and children. It seems that no one is quite certain how the chemical residue has made it into the bloodstream of such a large number of people if it is not located in the final product. Research has shown that PFOA was still present in the blood for approximately four years after exposure and levels were only reduced by half. It has been implicated by some research to cause increased instances of cancer in the pancreas, liver, testicles, and mammary glands. Also increased were instances of miscarriage, weight loss, thyroid problems, weaker immune systems, and low organ weights.
There is a growing community of scientists including a research team at the University of Toronto that believe the largest concentration of PFOA is not the manufacturing process of Teflon, but a cousin of Teflon called "telomers."
Telomers are also made by DuPont and a select few other companies. These telomers are used to make the stain and grease repellent coatings for fast food containers, apparel, and carpeting...
Although the DuPont Corporation has stated that PFOA is only used in the manufacturing process and should not be found in the final products, it must be noted that the chemical is found in the bloodstream of 95% of American men, women, and children. It seems that no one is quite certain how the chemical residue has made it into the bloodstream of such a large number of people if it is not located in the final product. Research has shown that PFOA was still present in the blood for approximately four years after exposure and levels were only reduced by half. It has been implicated by some research to cause increased instances of cancer in the pancreas, liver, testicles, and mammary glands. Also increased were instances of miscarriage, weight loss, thyroid problems, weaker immune systems, and low organ weights.
There is a growing community of scientists including a research team at the University of Toronto that believe the largest concentration of PFOA is not the manufacturing process of Teflon, but a cousin of Teflon called "telomers."
Telomers are also made by DuPont and a select few other companies. These telomers are used to make the stain and grease repellent coatings for fast food containers, apparel, and carpeting...
~ Read on... ~
2 comments:
Yikes!
I hate to see that microwave popcorn is listed! Drat...
Very informative post my friend. I have learned something today thanks to you.
Peace.
It has been widely known for years that human exposure to PFOA is very low under normal non-stick cookware use conditions. A just-released study report by a trusted third party, Consumer Reports, has again verified that the risk of non-stick pan use is very low, and getting lower. "Consumer Reports tested non-stick pans from various manufacturers to test the safety of new and used pans at heats of 204 C (400 F) and found that PFOA emissions were minimal. "The highest level was about 100 times lower than levels that animal studies suggest are of concern for ongoing exposure to PFOA," the magazine reports in its June issue. "With the aged pans, emissions were barely measurable." Health Canada has said that non-stick coatings are safe to use at temperatures under 350 C (662 F). But, the federal agency said that with higher heats, irritating or poisonous fumes may be released."
Points to think about:
If you cook at temperatures over 500 F, normal cooking greases and oils are at, or likely to soon reach, the "flash point." Hence, you are creating a serious risk of a grease fire and also are denaturing foods and greases, and thus emitting smoke and vapors that are likely hazardous to your and your pet's health, regardless of what type of pan you are using!
PFOA-like chemicals are added at very low concentrations to powdered fluoro-polymers to help the non-stick polymer powders adhere, in an even layer, to recently stamped, cast, or spun pans, prior to "baking on" the non-stick polymer finish. During this baking-on phase of cookware manufacture, the bulk of residual PFOA-like emulsifiers are driven off to a fume vent system from the high temperature manufacturing ovens. That is where vapor controls are needed to reduce occupational exposure.
The widespread bio-accumulation of PFOA and PFOA-like materials in multiple warm blooded species around the world is unlikely to be significantly attributable to cookware. Not all societies even have access to non-stick cookware! We must look to other PFOA like material end uses to determine where the significant animal exposures are coming from.
It's time to stop the cookware/PFOA exposure myth spreading, and focus on the real exposure risks.
besides, to be safe, companies such as scanpan (scanpancookware.com) now have pfoa free cookware ... its time to find something else to create panic about....
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