Spending time scraping the kitchen sink in the morning for breakfast becomes boring. Non-stick cookware may seem like an attractive option – but is it safe?
Usually when people inquire about the safety of their non-stick cookware, they talk about Teflon, said Suzanne Fent, a reproductive endocrinologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina. Also known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), this clear plastic is used to wrap metal utensils and pans, giving them a waxy, smooth-to-clean surface – and for decades, scientists have debated whether it is safe for cooking. Is.
Experts agree that Teflon itself is not a problem. The coating itself is considered non-toxic. Then even if you cut it into small pieces, it passes by you. But some experts are concerned about what happens when Teflon gets too hot. When the pans are overheated, the PTFE coating begins to split, Fenten told LiveScience. As Teflon breaks down, it releases a host of toxic gases. In rare cases, this chemical can cause breathing in smoke Polymer fume fever, A highly characteristic condition Fever, Shortness of breath and weakness. These gases are also deadly to birds – poultry houses have been wiped clean by lightballs coated in Teflon. Of particular concern is the release of perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical when Teflon is heated. Long-term exposure to PFOA is associated with many conditions ranging from cancer Thyroid Disease, Fenton said.
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Not all researchers believe that people need to worry about their Teflon pens breaking. Some point out that no study has analyzed the long-term effects of Teflon leaves on humans in particular. Instead, this study focuses on the health effects of Teflon chemical byproducts such as PFO. Most of the data on these toxins comes from cases of environmental exposure – such as drinking water or factory settings, where the level of exposure is higher than that of non-stick cookware. “Generally speaking, nonstick pens are not dangerous,” said Kyle Steinland, a professor of environmental health at Emory University in Atlanta.
Stanland and other scientists also argue that people do not cook at high temperatures to cause these chemical reactions. “Now, if you burn your heat on high heat for an hour, that’s it [Teflon] Will break down, “” but it will be the least of your problems because your house will catch fire. ”
However, research suggests that the pen can easily reach temperatures hot enough to decompose Teflon. A 2001 study was published in a journal by a group of researchers in Canada Nature, In which Teflon broke 680 degrees Fahrenheit (360 degrees Celsius). Reference: According to a published 2017 article, a Teflon-coated pan can reach 750 F (399 C) with eight minutes left on a high heat on the stove top. Environmental science and pollution research. And at lower temperatures, according to a 1998 article published in the journal, the Teflon coating still breaks down over time. Polymer degradation and stability. If you are constantly heating your leaf to 260 F (127 C; the temperature at which we find the piece), according to the 2001 Nature Study, the leaf should last about 2.3 years.
Taking good care of non-stick pans can help keep your kitchen safe. “It’s really important that you use heat over low-medium heat, and you don’t use utensils that will scratch it,” Fenten said. Said Fant.
But in some cases, it’s best to eat Teflon pens together, Fanto added – especially if you’re pregnant, Breastfeeding Or have young children. PFOs in particular are associated with developmental problems in children. This is because this chemical is considered to be an endocrine disruptor, i.e. it interferes with the body. Hormone system. Exposure to PFOA causes elevated estrogen in male rats and delayed mammary gland development in female rats, according to an article published in 2012. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In humans, chemical obesity is associated with diabetes, low sperm quality and irregular menstrual cycles – potential signs of endocrine disruption.
Fortunately, there are a wealth of other options for people against scrubbing pens. Cookware made of anodized Aluminum (A product that protects against corrosion and scratches) and ceramic is non-stick and completely safe, Fant said. If properly cared for, cast-iron skeletons can serve as other non-toxic, non-stick as well as enriching food in addition to making blood. Iron.
“Non-stick pans come in many forms,” Fanten said, “any of them can certainly cook healthy meals safely.”
Originally published Living science.
