News Coverage
Dangerous Teflon Not Worth Celebrating
Syracuse.com, John E. Stevens
Published May 5, 2008
On April 16, in the CNY Food section of The Post-Standard, on page D1, you wrote an enticing article entitled, "Non-Sticky Situation" celebrating the 50th anniversary of Teflon discovered by Roy J. Plunkett, who worked for DuPont Chemical Company.
There's something very wrong with this picture. And very wrong with your celebrating its anniversary.
For years, the dangers of using Teflon-coated cookware has been noted by many scientists and doctors. Most folks have heard of "the Teflon Flu." Most recently, Joseph Mercola, M.D., has added his own report to the dangers of using Teflon-coated and other non-sticking cookware.
Mercola states: "My message today is strong and simple: If you have Teflon-coated or other non-stick cookware in your home, throw it away."
The problem is something called perfluroctanoic acid (PFOA), a synthetic chemical used in the production of Teflon and other similar non-stick coatings (i.e., Stainmaster, Silverstone, Duracote, Resistal, etc.).
According to a recent report on NaturalNews.com, PFOA is found in the bloodstream of 95 percent of Americans. If it's not coming from these products, where is it coming from?
The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit consumer safety organization, has found that non-stick pans begin producing dangerous toxins within just two minutes of heating. PFOA has been associated with tumors in at least four different organs in animal tests and has been implicated in an increase in prostate cancer in PFOA plant workers.
In April of 2006, a number of class action lawsuits were filed against DuPont charging the company with exposing millions of Americans to serious health risks from cooking pans containing PFOA.
The suits even claim that DuPont knew of the risks but failed to disclose them. One month later, a scientific advisory panel to the Environmental Protection Agency advised that PFOA be labeled a "likely carcinogen."
However, at the same time that the agency was issuing these advisories, they were also suing DuPont for allegedly hiding health data about PFOA for 20 years. DuPont settled to the tune of $10.25 million. But that didn't help the health of many millions who were harmed by this wonderful synthetic chemical garbage.
And finally, in May of 2006, DuPont acknowledged that they received a subpoena from the U.S. Justice Department's Environmental Crimes Section requiring them to turn over documents about PFOA safety.
There is absolutely no doubt that PFOA is unsafe for human use. If anyone wishes to learn more about the dangers of PFOA and other non-stick cookware, you can access the PFOA/PFC information directly at
www.ewg.org/reports/pfcworld .
John E. Stevens, of Jamesville, is a health and wellness consultant for Stepping Stone Studio.
