A coating of polymer or polytetrafluoroethylene on cookware produces a nonstick surface. Available for more than 60 years, polymer helps prevent eggs and pancakes from sticking in a skillet. Unfortunately, the polymer coating chips off when scratched by rough-edged kitchen utensils or abrasive scouring pads. Another concern involves perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, a chemical used as a processing aid for polymer. It’s been linked to cancer in lab animals. However, polymer-coated cookware is considered safe to use, even if scratched.
It has been widely known for years that human exposure to PFOA is very low under normal non-stick cookware use conditions. A just-released study report by a trusted third party, Consumer Reports, has again verified that the risk of non-stick pan use is very low, and getting lower. “Consumer Reports tested non-stick pans from various manufacturers to test the safety of new and used pans at heats of 204 C (400 F) and found that PFOA emissions were minimal. “The highest level was about 100 times lower than levels that animal studies suggest are of concern for ongoing exposure to PFOA,” the magazine reports in its June issue. “With the aged pans, emissions were barely measurable.” Health Canada has said that non-stick coatings are safe to use at temperatures under 350 C (662 F). But, the federal agency said that with higher heats, irritating or poisonous fumes may be released.”
Points to think about:
If you cook at temperatures over 500 F, normal cooking greases and oils are at, or likely to soon reach, the “flash point.” Hence, you are creating a serious risk of a grease fire and also are denaturing foods and greases, and thus emitting smoke and vapors that are likely hazardous to your and your pet’s health, regardless of what type of pan you are using!
PFOA-like chemicals are added at very low concentrations to powdered fluoro-polymers to help the non-stick polymer powders adhere, in an even layer, to recently stamped, cast, or spun pans, prior to “baking on” the non-stick polymer finish. During this baking-on phase of cookware manufacture, the bulk of residual PFOA-like emulsifiers are driven off to a fume vent system from the high temperature manufacturing ovens. That is where vapor controls are needed to reduce occupational exposure.
The widespread bio-accumulation of PFOA and PFOA-like materials in multiple warm blooded species around the world is unlikely to be significantly attributable to cookware. Not all societies even have access to non-stick cookware! We must look to other PFOA like material end uses to determine where the significant animal exposures are coming from.
Post time: Apr-26-2017