Yet another item to toss from your home is one that has become regarded as the best method of cooking out there – non-stick cookware. Using non-stick cookware sure makes cooking easier and more convenient, but is the average person aware of the harm revolving around this cookware? Unlike iron or ceramic pots and pans, this type of cooking vesicle can transmit a toxic chemical through the air that you breathe in. Before continuing to use non-stick cookware, be aware of the many non-stick cookware dangers.

Chemical Compounds: PFOS, PFOA, and PTFE

Most notable of the non-stick cookware dangers, chemical compounds known as perfluorinated compounds are emitted from using this cookware. Once the compounds become heated, they are considered to be a potentially deadly vapor gas if taken in too quickly. Perfluorinated compounds are amongst many non stick surfaces, as well as in popcorn packaging, french fry boxing, candy bar wrappers as well as  other various food items. It is best to stay away from anything that may contain perfluorinated compounds in them.

Along with PFOAs, another toxic chemical known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are actually capable of killing birds. The chemical responsible for the biological damage, which has been shown to cause many problems in animals, has been found in the bloodstream of 95 percent of Americans.

Low Birth Weight in Infants

To add to the non-stick cookware dangers, a direct correlation between PFOA and low birth-weight has been found, affecting newborns around the globe. The full effects of C8 (further abbreviated name of PFOA) exposure went under study, under the lead of a Dr. Goldman of John Hopkins University. Though the results came to be conclusive about the low birth weight and other deformations found in infant children, the Teflon chemical still persists as the prime ingredient in non-stick surfaces.

Thyroid disease, oxidization of DNA in organs

The teflon compound, when released into the air around you and integrated into the bloodstream through ingestion, can pose a serious risk for thyroid damage while also negatively impacting DNA. The results from a study taken in Tokyo have found that these chemicals are at the very least carcinogenic, if not potentially more deadly on a larger timescale. Obviously people that have been using conventional products like candy wrappers and popcorn bags for the past century are at a greater risk for toxic exposure, but it should not be overlooked as something minor by any means.

So while non-stick cookware is convenient, is it really worth exposing yourself to the many non-stick cookware dangers? As a precaution, you may want to put aside the non-stick cooking ‘essentials’ and use something tried and true as a method for cooking their foods, just as a precaution and to hopefully enrich their lives further.

Additional sources:

ABCNews

ScienceDirect

Mercola

Besides the thought of how difficult it will be to remove food scraps, most give little thought to the pots and pans they use while cooking. One type of cookware which has become very popular in recent years is known as ‘non-stick’ cookware. While this type of cookware can provide a sense of timeliness and convenience due to its non-stick properties, it may actually be endangering the health of you and your family.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid | A Non-Stick Cookware Released Toxin

The toxic fumes emitted from non-stick cookware such as PFOA and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are actually capable of killing birds. The chemical responsible for the biological damage, which has been shown to cause many problems in animals, has been found in the bloodstream of 95 percent of Americans.

The toxin released by this health-hazardous cookware is known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical which has been used for over 70 years in non-stick cookware as well as stain-resistant snack food packaging, microwaved popcorn and cleaning products. It wasn’t until the past few decades, however, that the chemical was recognized as a potential carcinogen at best. Although most of the studies conducted concerning PFOA have been animal studies, they don’t lend any positive support to the chemical.

PFOA isn’t released in the air so much from the non-cookware unless the cookware is heated to a high enough temperature. At a temperature of about 450 degrees Fahrenheit (around Medium on your stove top dial), non-stick cookware begins to release the toxin into the air. This chemical exposure, although not an exceptionally large threat, can cause various health complications like thyroid diseases, low birth weight, or organ specific oxidative DNA damage.

The amount of chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis is staggering. Toxins from cleaning agents, candles, and carpets contribute to the massive amount of indoor air pollution while various smog-emitting contraptions pump chemicals into the outside air. While avoiding chemical health threats is important, avoiding them all is impossible. Instead of attempting to identify and avoid every toxin in your home, you can instead begin purifying your home to help eliminate a wide variety of indoor toxins.

Don’t stress out over the toxins in your home. Instead, begin eliminating them by cutting down on toxin-emitters like non-stick cookware and synthetic household cleaners. Stress can do a lot more damage than PFOA, and reducing any stress you may currently have is crucial.