News Coverage
Transcript: Teflon Flu
Government Investigates Possible Health Risk
Published November 17, 2003
CHARLES GIBSON
We're gonna turn now to a "20/20" report, it will be on tonight, and it's on the subject of Teflon. Now, millions of us use Teflon each day, it keeps the pancakes from sticking, it keeps the bacon from burning, and it also makes the time cleaning up the pots and pans a whole lot shorter. But ABC's Brian Ross finds that these helpful kitchen tools also can pose a health risk. And he joins us with some surprising warnings this morning. Brian.
BRIAN ROSS, ABC NEWS
Well, good morning, Charlie. The Federal government is now conducting an urgent review of the chemicals involved in making Teflon for possible long-term harm. But we discovered in looking into that another more immediate health problem involving Teflon.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) We went to the kitchen with members of the Environmental Working Group, an activist organization.
JANE HOULIHAN, ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP
It's heating up pretty rapidly in those first few minutes.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) To learn about a little-known health problem involving the mix of chemicals from Teflon.
JANE HOULIHAN
We're at 480.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) They can make you sick, cause a kind of 2-day Teflon flu if a non-stick pan gets overheated, starting around 500 degrees.
JANE HOULIHAN
560. 560. At 554 degrees Fahrenheit, studies show that ultra fine particles start coming off the pan. These are tiny little particles that can embed deeply into the lungs. It feels like the flu. Headache, chills, backache, temperature between 100 and 104 degrees.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) The hotter it gets, the more chemicals are released.
JANE HOULIHAN
And at 680, six toxic gases can come off of heated Teflon.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) And it turns out this Teflon flu is something DuPont has known about for years.
UMA CHOUDRAY,
DUPONT VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH
You get some fumes, yes. And you get a flu-like symptom, which is reversible. And if you follow the instructions on the pan ...
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) You, you feel like you have the flu?
UMA CHOUDRAY
You feel like you have the flu temporarily.
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) And how long does that last?
UMA CHOUDRAY
Temporary. A couple days.
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) A couple days?
UMA CHOUDRAY
A couple days.
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) That's temporarily?
UMA CHOUDRAY
Yeah.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) DuPont says pans don't get hot enough with normal cooking to present a problem.
RESEARCHER
We're at 500.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) But a piece of bacon was just getting crisp when this Teflon pan went past the initial danger point of 500 degrees.
JANE HOULIHAN
This is the temperature DuPont has said is never exceeded under normal cooking conditions in the home.
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) We've cooked some bacon. About 500 degrees, the bacon still wasn't done.
UMA CHOUDRAY
I never cooked bacon. I can't comment.
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) It turns out that this is a problem well known to, among of all people, owners of pet birds, Charlie. Teflon fumes will kill birds. DuPont knows this. It warns bird owners not to have pet birds in the kitchen when cooking with Teflon.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) All right. Brian Ross. Interesting. Who'd of thought it? Anyway, you can watch all of Brian Ross' investigation on the dangers of Teflon tonight on "20/20," 10:00 PM, 9:00 central.