10 pts. anyone know anything about Teflon cookware?

Question

im doing a paper on teflon cookware for my food dynamics class at school. one of the questions we have to answer in our essay is "WHAT ARE THE DANGERS CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF TEFLON COOKWARE?" and i cant seem to find anything on it except that it can kill pet birds.

if you could help me with the question in bold^ and provide some links on something for proof, it would be greatly apprieated

THANKS =)

Answer 1

http://www.pristineplanet.com/newsletter/2006/05.asp
http://www.tuberose.com/Teflon.html
http://www.hpcbd.com/dupont.htm

The third one talks about a chemical (C-8) that I found in the second one. C-8 has been found in prostate cancer patients, breast cancer. C-8 is a by-product of the production of Teflon. LITTLE HOCKING WATER HISTORY WITH DUPONT AND PFOA (C-8)


DuPont has been polluting the environment with PFOA for over 50 years by discharges to air, water, landfills and into injection wells. They have repeatedly stated that in those 50 years that there are no known adverse health effects from PFOA. However, the following facts have been documented:



· 1981 – DuPont found C-8 in the blood of female plant workers in DuPont’s Washington Works Plant in Wood County. They also temporarily reassigned 50 women. Two of seven children born to female plant workers between 1979 and 1981 had birth defects. (EWG – DuPont Hid Teflon Pollution for Decades, December 13, 2002, attached)



· 1984 – DuPont internal documents show that the company found PFOA in the tap water of the Little Hocking Water Association, but did not notify the Association that PFOA had been detected in their water supply. After learning of the PFOA contamination of the Lubeck Public Service District water supply in 2001, the LHWA requested that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection test their four water supply wells. As a result of that testing, the LHWA learned in January 2002 that PFOA was in all four of their production wells – almost 18 years after DuPont knew that C-8 was present in the LHWA water supply. (EWG – DuPont Hid Teflon Pollution for Decades, December 13, 2002, attached)



· 2003 – In October 2001, DuPont scientists developed a mathematical model designed to estimate the levels of C-8 in human blood based on how much exposure people had to C-8 through both air and water. Based on this model, the blood levels of people living in Ohio, who are exposed to C-8 through both water and air, could be more than twice the average level that DuPont has reported in their employees who work with the chemical. Nevertheless, Robert Rickard, director of DuPont’s research laboratory has said, “We don’t believe there is a medical reason to test the blood of people in the community.” (Columbus Dispatch, March 2, 2003, attached)



· 2003 - A West Virginia judge ruled that C-8 was “toxic and hazardous to humans.” He also ruled that DuPont has to pay for blood tests to measure C-8 exposure for people, who are included in the class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed in August 2001 on behalf of as many as 50,000 people who live in Ohio and West Virginia and were exposed to C-8 through contaminated water supplies.

Little Hocking Water Association, Inc.

U.S. EPA Comments

May 14, 2003

http://www.littlehockingwater.org/1111USEPAComments14May2003%20FINAL.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuPont_and_C-8
http://www.calisafe.org/_disc1/00000082.htm

Type in EPA and C-8.....you will get many sites to choose from.Good luck!

Answer 2

I like to shop for long lasting units that may take a few abuse. Stainless metal can final endlessly with correct care. Make definite they've heavy capsulated bottoms or are completely clad. The company All-Clad is viewed the holy grail in cookware, however could be very high priced (+ $one thousand). Tramontina company (bought by way of Walmart) has a completely clad, great set for a extra fair fee ($two hundred-$three hundred). If you opt for non-stick cookware, manufacturers like Anolon and Circulon have a few units which might be steel utensil dependable. These also are very well great. These units can run round $three hundred so if that's too prime, you'll be able to regularly purchase only a couple portions first or discover a great deal on Craigslist or Ebay as I did.

Answer 3

The Environmental Working Group demonstrated how a Teflon-coated pan can easily reach a temperature of 500 degrees while cooking bacon. At that temperature, they claim that ultrafine particles may be released from the pan. And at around 680 degrees the pan will begin to emit toxic gases. When inhaled, the gases may cause a reaction with symptoms that are typical of the flu, including a rise in body temperature, chills, headache.

It's not Teflon but the primary chemical in it - PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) or C-8. This is in lots of things besides Teflon pans. Just do a Yahoo search for 'dangers of teflon' and you will get plenty of sources, including teflon.com.

Answer 4

I'm afraid I don't have a link, but I can tell you that research has found that when teflon cookware gets hot or overheated (not sure which) it can release a toxic gas. Not enough to kill you right off, but I think it can cause cancer. I hope this puts you on the right track.

Answer 5

you can't find a lot of information b/c it is still being researched on the impacts of human consumption.
the biggest problem is tht the teflon coating was chipping and ending up in people's food. however, it was in small portions. there is on link to that and any health problems..but it is being reaserached and whatnot.
there's also one other theory..that esp when the pans are new that if not heated properly and overheated can release a small toxin into the air.. again, not enough to have proven to be harmful to humans..

Answer 6

It can overheat if you leave it on the heat without some sort of food in it and the vapors will fill your house and not only kill ALL of your birds, but make you and any other pets sick.

http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/commentary/News/2003/2003-0520-USAT-stickyteflon.htm

Also it leeches into your food if the pan is scratched or damaged in any way.

http://experts.about.com/q/Food-Safety-Issues-767/cookware.htm