On Healthy Living

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a plan whereby DuPont and other makers of Teflon-coated pans and consumer products will eliminate a dangerous chemical from consumer products by 2015. The chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid, is found in the blood of 95 percent of Americans, as well as in the blood of polar bears and marine animals.

The chemical has been linked to cancer and birth defects, especially for mothers who work at plants that make Teflon. Teflon is the coating used in nonstick cookware, but it’s also used in stain-resistant carpets and clothing, microwave popcorn bags, fast food containers, pizza boxes and many other household items.

Of course the makers of Teflon say there’s not enough of the chemical in household items to warrant eliminating their use, but when a Teflon-coated pan is overheated the fumes have been know to kill small birds.

It’s hard to say how this will shake out and whether people will stop using their Teflon pans. But it is good to know that the industry seems to be willing to make changes to eliminate this chemical, which is good news.

(You can read more about the plan in the Washington Post.)

Sarah White wrote this on January 26th, 2006 and filed it under Healthy Living, Healthy Cooking, Health Foods |