Teflon Health Risk

A chemical used in the manufacturing of DuPont's Teflon® is under closer scrutiny due to suspected health risks. The Teflon® chemical is called PFOA, and sometimes C-8.

PFOA has been reported to be in nearly everyone's blood, but just how it got there remains a mystery, according to Jennifer Seed, PhD, EPA chief of pollution prevention and toxics in the risk assessment division of the Existing Chemicals Assessment Branch.

"PFOA is present in most people's blood in this country and beyond; it's even in wildlife," Seed said in an interview with WebMD. "We have absolutely no understanding at this point how it got there. It is like fairy dust."

DuPont maintains there is no PFOA in any Teflon® product, it is only used during the manufacturing process. According to a page on the DuPont web site, "Studies by DuPont and others, using FDA standard testing methods, found no detectable levels of PFOA in nonstick coatings used for cookware - including those sold under the Teflon® brand.

The company continues to say there are no known human health risks associated with Teflon®.

However, recent studies show PFOA causing cancer, liver damage, growth defects, immune system damage, and death in lab rats and monkeys.

An attorney in July 2005 filed a $5 billion lawsuit against DuPont alleging high levels of toxicity in Teflon® coated cookware.

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has asked manufacturers to commit to reducing PFOA from emissions and product content by 95 percent no later than 2010, and to work toward eliminating PFOA from emissions and product content no later than 2015.

See also:
Teflon in a Sticky Situation
Is Teflon Chemical Toxic? EPA Seeks Answers
Teflon chemical found in the blood of everyone on Earth; scientists puzzled
DuPont faces $5 billion lawsuit over Teflon