Latest news with #PTFE
CNET
4 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Can Your Nonstick Pan Make You Sick? We'll Explain
A great nonstick pan can do wonders for your cooking. Nonstick cookware is coated in teflon, which makes it easy to use and clean. However, some question the safety of the chemical-coated dishes: PTFE and PFAS (used in the coating) can potentially mix with your food during use. CNET Last year, the US saw an increase in reported cases of "Teflon flu." If that raises questions in your mind, you're not alone. Several Reddit users expressed the same concerns, with some wondering whether inhaling Teflon fumes while cooking is dangerous. The good news is that if your cookware was made after a certain year and you use it properly, you should be in the clear. But there's also a bit more to the story. Here's what you need to know about Teflon flu and using your nonstick kitchenware without health worries. Read more: Never Raise Your Air Fryer Above This Temperature What is Teflon flu? Air fryer baskets are often made with a synthetic nonstick coating. David Watsky/CNET The chemical polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), found in Teflon and similar nonstick surfaces, is common in air fryers, pots and pans and other kitchen appliances. When these materials overheat, they can release synthetic compounds that pose health risks. Polymer fume fever, or Teflon flu, has reignited a debate about nonstick cookware safety. The illness occurs when fumes from an overheated Teflon or nonstick pan are inhaled. Nonstick pans are made with polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE). PTFEs are known as "forever chemicals" because they take decades or sometimes even hundreds of years to break down. Read more: I Upgraded to This PFAS-Free Glass Fryer and You Should, Too Under normal use, PTFEs aren't thought to cause a health risk, but when heated to above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, there are increased emissions and the resulting polymer fume fever. Polymer fume fever causes a range of reported symptoms including fever, chills, muscle tension and headache. Symptoms of Teflon flu are temporary and generally start within 12 hours of exposure but can take up to 24 hours to take hold. How to avoid Teflon flu Teflon and nonstick cookware are easy to use, clean and maintain, but it should be used only for low to medium heat cooking. Never heat your nonstick cookware over high heat or medium heat for long periods of time. Try to keep the surface temperature at or below 450 degrees Fahrenheit, or emissions from the PTFE coating are likely to increase. What is Teflon and does it cause cancer? Nonstick or Teflon is a popular choice for home cooks. The biggest advantage is that food won't stick to pots and pans coated with Teflon the way it does to other metal materials, so it's easy to flip a pancake or remove a cooked egg. Nonstick is also very easy to clean, generally taking no more than a few seconds to wash by hand. Teflon is a brand name for a synthetic chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene that's used in many household products, from wire coatings to fabric protectors and kitchen cookware. The knock on Teflon is that it's unsafe if consumed or absorbed into the body and can increase the chances of cancer and other diseases. Studies have shown some connections (more on that below), but Teflon still exists and is used to make cookware, and the safety concerns around Teflon are mostly a thing of the past. I stress mostly. Here's why… The brand Teflon may be associated with a risk of cancer, but it's actually a chemical formerly used in the making of Teflon called PFOA that's to blame. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, perfluorooctanoic acid is a manufactured perfluorochemical developed in the 1930s and used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. Thanks to a federal ban, all Teflon and nonstick cookware made after 2013 should be free of harmful PFOA. Europe enacted the same ban in 2008. All-Clad What are the negative effects of PFOA? In some studies, PFOA has been linked to cancer, immune deficiency and a host of other medical problems. It has also been shown to affect growth and development and injure the liver in laboratory animals. As recently as 2017, chemical giant Dupont settled a lawsuit for more than $670 million for its role in contaminating drinking water with PFOA (also referred to as C-8) in the mid-Ohio Valley. A previous class-action suit from 2004 in the same area led to a study that found PFOA was linked to cancer and compromised immune function, even in small doses. Teflon cookware made before 2013 may be toxic All that was enough for most manufacturers to halt the production of nonstick coatings using PFOA around 2002. Teflon using PFOA wasn't officially banned in the United States until 2014. Europe banned it in 2008. That means if you own Teflon nonstick cookware from 2013 or earlier, there's a chance it contains PFOA. Nine years is typically longer than the average lifespan of a nonstick pan, but if you're not sure, it's probably best to replace any Teflon-coated pots or pans. If you're concerned, look for PFOA-free cookware Because of the ban, all nonstick cookware made in the US should be PFOA-free, but you'd be wise to make sure. Be extra cautious about buying cheap or off-brand cookware, especially if it's not produced in a country with an active PFOA ban. PFOA is still produced elsewhere, largely in China, and used to make consumer products. The good news is that PFOA-free nonstick cookware is cheap, so there's no reason to risk it with anything that might contain the chemical. You can nab a 10-inch skillet from a trusted cookware brand like Misen for $99 or Tramontina for about $30. Luxury cookware brand All-Clad makes a two-piece nonstick cookware set for $60. The Always Pan is a nonstick ceramic alternative to Teflon cookware. Our Place The best natural nonstick cookware alternatives If you're ready to ditch Teflon and chemical-based nonstick pots and pans, there are plenty of more natural nonstick alternatives. The most nonstick of the bunch is ceramic cookware, which has seen a boom in popularity since concerns about Teflon first surfaced. A few popular ceramic cookware options include The Always Pan (read my full review here), Caraway and Greenpan. Cast iron is another cookware material that develops a natural nonstick coating over time, especially if you season it well and care for it properly. It won't likely ever become as nonstick as Teflon, but cast iron has loads of other culinary benefits that are worthy of a few extra seconds of scrubbing in the sink after use. Lodge is a tried-and-true cast-iron cookware producer: You can scoop up a 10-inch skillet for as little as $20. Cast iron develops a nonstick patina over time and is a natural alternative to Teflon. Angela Lang/CNET Carbon steel is yet another option and functions similarly to cast-iron cookware, although it's not quite as heavy, slightly more sensitive to corrosion, and typically more expensive. Carbon steel hasn't really popped off here in the US but is a favorite of professional chefs, as well as yours truly. Cookware startup Made In produces some excellent carbon steel cookware with prices starting around $89, but there are cheaper options out there. FAQs Should I worry about buying Teflon nonstick cookware? The Teflon brand stopped using PFOA, the offending chemical behind Teflon flu, in 2013. That means that it should be safe to use new Teflon cookware any way you see fit -- although it couldn't hurt to continue being cautious when using new nonstick cookware. Can I only catch Teflon flu from Teflon products? No. The name Teflon flu originates from the Teflon brand because they famously used PFOA chemicals in the process of creating its cookware before 2013. However, that doesn't mean your cookware is PFOA-free. If your cookware is created in the US, it should be free of harmful chemicals. But cheap companies and off-brands that create cookware in countries without PFOA bans often still use the chemical in their products, and those might still wind up in your hands.
New York Post
02-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
NYS lawmakers want to ban nonstick cookware over chemical that feds say isn't dangerous
Tough luck, Teflon. New York lawmakers are pushing to ban the sale of nonstick cookware over a chemical coating they say is dangerous — but that the federal government has deemed safe for decades. The popular – and typically cheaper – style of pots and pans could be wiped off store shelves by the start of 2027 because the kitchen items contain a type of plastic made from 'forever chemicals.' Advertisement 3 The ban would affect nonstick pans. Fred – The proposed bill that would ban the chemicals used in the cookware and a slew of other products, the latest in a series of nanny-state legislation Empire State officials have passed with or considered in recent years. New York would follow a handful of other states like Rhode Island, Minnesota and Connecticut with a ban, but a trade group lobbying against said lawmakers are misunderstanding the science. Advertisement Steve Burns, of Cookware Sustainability Alliance, said the same type of chemicals are coated with pacemakers and other electronics that are not being attacked by state lawmakers. 'What we try to say is that exact chemical that a cardiac surgeon has been putting into bodies for 60 years, how can that possibly be dangerous?' he told The Post. 'But somehow the same chemical when used to coat a frying pan is deemed to be dangerous. 'If we're gonna go around the state of New York and point at things in everybody's home and say that good, that's good, that's bad,' he added. 'What's it based on?' Nonstick cookware is made from polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, a subset of the synthetic chemicals group called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The ban wouldn't just affect pots and pans. Advertisement The sale of some architectural paints, car parts, cleaning products, rugs, ski wax textiles and polish containing PFAS would also be prohibited, according to the proposed law. The legislation passed the state Senate in May and has already cleared two crucial state Assembly committees in the legislature's lower chamber. A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the legislation is 'being discussed.' The final bill would also need to be signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan), one of the bill's architects, called the PFAS-laced products 'cancer causing pollutants' harmful to a person's health and environment. Advertisement 3 Lawmakers in support of the bill claim the type of pots and pans are not safe. Octopus16 – 'By phasing out this whole class of dangerous 'forever chemicals' we can decrease the likelihood that New Yorkers are exposed to these toxins through the life-cycle of the product, including the manufacturing, use, and disposal,' Hoylman-Sigal, who is running for Manhattan borough president, said in a statement. The bill also has some broad support, with moderate Democrats and even a pair of Republican Senators co-sponsoring the proposal. Brooklyn Democratic Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forres even wrote an op-ed for USA Today last month arguing the chemicals used to coat non-stick cookware pose health risks. 'As a nurse, this concerns me, and it's why I'm in support of getting these chemicals out of our cookware and other products, and ensuring safer alternatives are used,' said Souffrant Forres, a member of the Democratic Socialists of American. The FDA website notes that nonstick applications on pots and pans are an authorized use under federal guidelines. One Westchester Assemblyman against the measure noted the FDA's longstanding stance. 'I think consumer choice is crucial, there's no question,' Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Yorktown) said. 'But you're running in conflict with what the [Food and Drug Administration] has out there.' 3 Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal is backing the legislation. Hans Pennink Advertisement The potential ban is one of several heavy-handed rules Empire State lawmakers have considered or put in place, including targeting wood and coal-fired stoves, single-use plastic bottles of soap in hotels and flavored nicotine pouches. While nonstick pans with PTFE are considered safe when used correctly, if the cookware is set to a temperature above 500 degrees, the coating can burn off and cause potentially harmful fumes, according to a 2024 Washington Post article. The fumes can lead to a polymer fume fever, also known as Teflon flu. Advertisement An FDA spokesperson told the publication that the agency is not aware of any research that shows PFAS in nonstick cookware could lead to a safety concern for customers – a point Burns from the cookware alliance points to. 'This dates all the way back to the JFK administration and has been true under both Democratic and Republican presidents alike,' he said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Middlesex County native pens book on forever chemicals and their birth in New Jersey
New Jersey is the birthplace of "forever chemicals," said East Brunswick native Sharon Udasin, an author and environmental journalist with "The Hill." Forever chemicals are the topic of her debut book, "Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America," which she co-authored alongside fellow journalist Rachel Frazin. The book is available where books are sold online, the publisher's website and in some bookstores. "Poisoning the Well" hit shelves April 10. Udasin and Frazin will be at Barnes & Noble in the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick at 753 Route 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 10 to talk about forever chemicals and sign copies of their book. In 1938, scientist Roy J. Plunkett accidentally created a substance − polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) − while working to create new alternatives for then-hazardous refrigerants in DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in the Deepwater section of Pennsville, New Jersey. PTFE was later trademarked by DuPont in 1944 as Teflon. It was used as a lining on pots and pans, as a stain repellant on fabrics, in cosmetics, and on and in a myriad of other commonly used items. Though made "safe" in 2013, the Teflon used for more than 50 years prior was discovered not to be safe and comes under the category of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), otherwise known as forever chemicals. Udasin and Frazin found that forever chemicals have deadly repercussions through interviews and investigations, which they detail in their 264-page expose. "Poisoning the Well" states that forever chemicals found in everyday products, from cooking pans to mascara, are coursing through the veins of 97% of Americans. The authors relay stories of individuals and communities impacted by forever chemicals. More: Are military explosives buried where Middlesex County's $66M sports complex is planned? Sometimes those actions were done knowingly by the military or large corporations − and then covered up, the book states. The Garden State is not immune to PFAS contamination, as the state's levels are above the federal regulations, Udasin said. "I've seen media reports that New Jersey is among the top two states in terms of PFAS contamination," Udasin said. "There are dozens of New Jersey utilities contaminated with the compounds, and this is because there's so much runoff from upstream, industrial sources and the giant military presence in New Jersey." In "Poisoning the Well," Udasin and Frazin present how PFAS leaked into drinking water and highlight evidence that the makers of forever chemicals may have known for decades about the deadly risks of their products. Udasin would like "Poisoning the Well" to inform the public of the cover-up and devastation that forever chemicals have brought, but also to "give people some hope for the future." "I would like to convey the idea that regular people were the ones who really propelled the activism on this issue forward," she said. "They took action on behalf of their communities, sometimes with their lives at risk. There is power in community movement. And there are also now some solutions." Forever chemicals was not a topic that originally had been in Udasin's wheelhouse. "One of my primary focuses has been water, but the contamination aspect was less so," said Udasin. "I wrote a series about some of the legal aspects with my co-author, and how people are trying to seek accountability for the contamination that they faced, and how that is very, very difficult, particularly when you're up against the federal government. After that, I said to Rachel that there isn't really a comprehensive book about these chemicals out there, even though they're so ubiquitous." So, they wrote it themselves. To author a book is a dream come true for Udasin. "Just to have a book in general has always been a dream of mine since I was a child," she said. "But to have it on such an important issue, something that is so in the news now and affects so many people across this country − I really value that I was able to do that. It's a huge sense of pride and accomplishment." Go: Udasin and Frazin will be at Barnes & Noble in the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick at 753 Route 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 10 to talk about forever chemicals and sign copies of their book. The book is available where books are sold online, the publisher's website and in some bookstores. email: cmakin@ Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@ or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Poisoning the Well: Book covers forever chemicals, their NJ birthplace
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
3M to pay New Jersey up to $450M in landmark ‘forever chemical' settlement
(The Hill) – 3M will pay the state of New Jersey up to $450 million over the next 25 years, resolving claims regarding widespread contamination from 'forever chemicals.' State Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced the agreement on Tuesday, describing the terms as 'the largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history.' PFAS is the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, an umbrella group of about 15,000 synthetic compounds known for their ability to persist nearly 'forever' in the environment, and for years in the human body. These cancer-linked compounds are present in a wide array of household items, such as nonstick pans, waterproof apparel cosmetics and stain-resistant fabric, as well as in certain firefighting foams. 'The makers of PFAS forever chemicals knew how poisonous these substances were, yet they produced and thoughtlessly released them into New Jersey's environment anyway,' LaTourette said in a statement. 'This historic settlement marks another step toward holding polluters accountable for dangerous PFAS contamination that has wrought havoc on our water supplies, injured our natural resources and threatened the public health,' the commissioner added. Can you filter 'forever chemicals' out of your water at home? New Jersey, one of the most PFAS-polluted places nationwide, is also the accidental birthplace of the chemicals. In 1938, postdoctoral scholar Roy Plunkett inadvertently created the first type of PFAS, known as PTFE or Teflon, while working on replacements for hazardous refrigerants. Plunkett conducted his research in DuPont labs located in the town of Deepwater, which now houses the Chemours Chambers Works site. The Tuesday settlement resolves 3M's liability in New Jersey's lawsuits regarding Chambers Works, as well as at the Parlin site, located in Sayreville, according to the announcement from the attorney general's office. A statement from the company on Tuesday acknowledged that 'historically, 3M supplied PFAS to DuPont at the site but discontinued that supply in 2001.' The settlement also resolves the state's claims against 3M in litigation regarding PFAS presence in firefighting foam, per the announcement. With this resolution, 3M will now no longer stand trial in an ongoing case on Chambers Works against DuPont, its spinoff company Chemours and other defendants. The attorney general's office stressed that Tuesday's settlement ranks among the only such statewide agreements in which 3M has entered for PFAS liability nationwide. Nonetheless, the 3M statement emphasized that 'this agreement is not an admission of liability.' 'If the agreement is not approved by the court or certain agreed terms are not fulfilled, 3M is prepared to continue to defend itself in litigation,' the statement added. The Hill has reached out for comment to both DuPont and Chemours, whose trial is currently scheduled for May 19, according to the attorney general's office. 'Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state's water supply,' Platkin said in a statement. 'For decades, 3M knew that their PFAS chemicals were forever contaminating the New Jersey environment,' the attorney general continued. 'But they continued to pollute the environment and escape accountability. That ends now.' Per the terms of the settlement, 3M will begin issuing payments of $275 million to $325 million in the years 2026-2034. In the first year, the company will pay $43.45 million for natural resources damages at the Chambers Works site and $16.55 million for related PFAS abatement projects, such as drinking water treatment. 3M will also pay $40 million to cover fees, costs and punitive damages, while financing costs of other statewide natural resource damages and pollution reduction. In the 2035-2050 window, the settlement involves an additional $125 million in payments for further damages and abatement needs. Payments made during those years, however, are subject to certain offsetting credits that 3M could receive if local governments are successful in recouping their own related claims, according to the attorney general's office. Via the settlement, 3M is released from liability arising from its sale, marketing, distribution, use and manufacture of PFAS in New Jersey, the announcement stated. However, the company must continue investigating and remediating PFAS contamination at its former New Jersey locations, the settlement added. The attorney general's office also stressed that the agreement does not impact private PFAS lawsuits filed by individual residents against 3M. 3M in its statement described the agreement as 'another important step toward reducing risk and uncertainty on these legacy issues, allowing 3M to focus on its strategic priorities.' The company noted that in the year 2000, it announced the voluntary phaseout of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most notorious types of PFAS. Twenty-two years later, 3M then said it would discontinue all PFAS production by the end of 2025. '3M remains on track to do so,' the statement added. With this newest settlement, the state of New Jersey has now obtained pledges from companies to pay up to about $840 million for contaminating the environment with forever chemicals, the announcement added. 'The damages we recover from 3M will help fund New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts,' LaTourette said, emphasizing that the state 'will continue to hold all PFAS polluters accountable' for their actions. 'The people of New Jersey should never be forced to clean up after them,' the commissioner added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
3M to pay New Jersey up to $450M in landmark ‘forever chemical' settlement
3M will pay the state of New Jersey up to $450 million over the next 25 years, resolving claims regarding widespread contamination from 'forever chemicals.' State Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced the agreement on Tuesday, describing the terms as 'the largest statewide PFAS settlement in New Jersey history.' PFAS is the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, an umbrella group of about 15,000 synthetic compounds known for their ability to persist nearly 'forever' in the environment, and for years in the human body. These cancer-linked compounds are present in a wide array of household items, such as nonstick pans, waterproof apparel cosmetics and stain-resistant fabric, as well as in certain firefighting foams. 'The makers of PFAS forever chemicals knew how poisonous these substances were, yet they produced and thoughtlessly released them into New Jersey's environment anyway,' LaTourette said in a statement. 'This historic settlement marks another step toward holding polluters accountable for dangerous PFAS contamination that has wrought havoc on our water supplies, injured our natural resources and threatened the public health,' the commissioner added. New Jersey, one of the most PFAS-polluted places nationwide, is also the accidental birthplace of the chemicals. In 1938, postdoctoral scholar Roy Plunkett inadvertently created the first type of PFAS, known as PTFE or Teflon, while working on replacements for hazardous refrigerants. Plunkett conducted his research in DuPont labs located in the town of Deepwater, which now houses the Chemours Chambers Works site. The Tuesday settlement resolves 3M's liability in New Jersey's lawsuits regarding Chambers Works, as well as at the Parlin site, located in Sayreville, according to the announcement from the attorney general's office. A statement from the company on Tuesday acknowledged that 'historically, 3M supplied PFAS to DuPont at the site but discontinued that supply in 2001.' The settlement also resolves the state's claims against 3M in litigation regarding PFAS presence in firefighting foam, per the announcement. With this resolution, 3M will now no longer stand trial in an ongoing case on Chambers Works against DuPont, its spinoff company Chemours and other defendants. The attorney general's office stressed that Tuesday's settlement ranks among the only such statewide agreements in which 3M has entered for PFAS liability nationwide. Nonetheless, the 3M statement emphasized that 'this agreement is not an admission of liability.' 'If the agreement is not approved by the court or certain agreed terms are not fulfilled, 3M is prepared to continue to defend itself in litigation,' the statement added. The Hill has reached out for comment to both DuPont and Chemours, whose trial is currently scheduled for May 19, according to the attorney general's office. 'Corporate polluters must be held accountable when they contaminate our state's water supply,' Platkin said in a statement. 'For decades, 3M knew that their PFAS chemicals were forever contaminating the New Jersey environment,' the attorney general continued. 'But they continued to pollute the environment and escape accountability. That ends now.' Per the terms of the settlement, 3M will begin issuing payments of $275 million to $325 million in the years 2026-2034. In the first year, the company will pay $43.45 million for natural resources damages at the Chambers Works site and $16.55 million for related PFAS abatement projects, such as drinking water treatment. 3M will also pay $40 million to cover fees, costs and punitive damages, while financing costs of other statewide natural resource damages and pollution reduction. In the 2035-2050 window, the settlement involves an additional $125 million in payments for further damages and abatement needs. Payments made during those years, however, are subject to certain offsetting credits that 3M could receive if local governments are successful in recouping their own related claims, according to the attorney general's office. Via the settlement, 3M is released from liability arising from its sale, marketing, distribution, use and manufacture of PFAS in New Jersey, the announcement stated. However, the company must continue investigating and remediating PFAS contamination at its former New Jersey locations, the settlement added. The attorney general's office also stressed that the agreement does not impact private PFAS lawsuits filed by individual residents against 3M. 3M in its statement described the agreement as 'another important step toward reducing risk and uncertainty on these legacy issues, allowing 3M to focus on its strategic priorities.' The company noted that in the year 2000, it announced the voluntary phaseout of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most notorious types of PFAS. Twenty-two years later, 3M then said it would discontinue all PFAS production by the end of 2025. '3M remains on track to do so,' the statement added. With this newest settlement, the state of New Jersey has now obtained pledges from companies to pay up to about $840 million for contaminating the environment with forever chemicals, the announcement added. 'The damages we recover from 3M will help fund New Jersey's nation-leading PFAS abatement efforts,' LaTourette said, emphasizing that the state 'will continue to hold all PFAS polluters accountable' for their actions. 'The people of New Jersey should never be forced to clean up after them,' the commissioner added.
