Teflon Cookware Dangers: Non-stick Coating Releases Toxic Fumes at High Temperatures

I recall the day about eight years ago when my husband who works in environmental law came home announcing we should really get rid of all of our Teflon cookware. Apparently, he had received some information in his line of work regarding the dangers of Teflon non-stick coating.

Many of us are familiar with the non-stick cookware coating manufactured by DuPont, known as Teflon. Teflon makes non-stick cooking and cleaning a breeze, however, it does come with some high risks. If heated at high temperatures , even for a short period of time, toxic fumes and particles can be released into the air, causing dangers for pet birds and humans alike . I honestly believe that years ago, before I was aware of the dangers of Teflon, overheating a Teflon pan resulted in the death of my two parakeets.

The synthetic polymer used to coat the cookware is known as polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE. This is part of the perflourinated chemical family known as PFC’s.PFC’s are associated with such medical conditions as smaller birth weight and size, increases in cholesterol, abnormal thyroid levels, inflammation of the liver, and weakened immune systems. PFC’s also pose a danger to the environment and to wildlife.

When heated to higher temperatures, the toxic fumes released from pans are enough to actually kill pet birds. I wish I had realized this before I lost my own two birds. For safety reasons, birds should never be housed near the kitchen where food is cooked. Non-stick pans should never be preheated, as this can cause them to become too hot. At only 2-5 minutes on a heated stove top, Teflon coated cookware can exceed safe temperatures. The coating then begins to break apart, emitting toxic particles and gases into the air of your home.

Use of Teflon can also cause flu-like symptoms in humans. The scientific community refers to this as “Teflon flu” or “Polymer fume fever”. Several years ago I watched a documentary about Teflon on television. A pregnant woman who was employed by a company that manufactured Teflon cookware, gave birth to a child with severe birth defects.The child, now grown, had severe facial deformities as well, believed to have been caused by his mother’s exposure to these toxins during her pregnancy.

I have to admit I do miss my Teflon cookware, especially when frying anything with potatoes or making French toast. However, it’s just not worth the risk. Choose safe alternatives when buying new cookware. Stainless steel and cast iron are good choices. If you are currently stuck with using Teflon cookware, keep these tips in mind. Never pre-heat the cookware, and keep the exhaust fan running while in use.


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