Teflon safety

While Teflon itself is chemically inert and non-toxic, Teflon begins to deteriorate after the temperature of cookware reaches about 500°F (260°C), and begins to significantly decompose above 660°F (350°C). These degradation products can be lethal to birds, and can cause flu-like symptoms in humans (“Teflon flu”). By comparison, cooking fats, oils and butter will begin to scorch and smoke at about 392°F (200°C), and meat is usually fried between 400-450°F (200-230°C), but empty cookware can exceed this temperature if left unattended on a hot burner.

A 1959 study, conducted before the FDA approved the material for use in food processing equipment, showed that the toxicity of fumes given off by the coated pan on dry heating was less than that of fumes given off by ordinary cooking oils.

A 1973 study confirmed the FDA findings and found that a 4-hour exposure to the pyrolysis products of butter in an uncoated pan were 100% toxic to parakeets at 260°C, whereas no deaths were observed for exposure to Teflon pyrolysis products until the Teflon coated pan was heated to 280°C. Over the 40 years non-stick cookware has been in widespread use, there is only one published case of a minor, short-lasting health effect linked to overheating non-stick cookware.

The EPA’s scientific advisory board found in 2005 that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical compound used to make Teflon, is a “likely carcinogen.” This finding was part of a draft report that has yet to be made final. DuPont settled for $300 million in 2004 a lawsuit filed by residents near its manufacturing plant in Ohio and West Virginia based on groundwater pollution from this chemical. Currently this chemical is not regulated by the EPA.

In January 2006, DuPont, the only company that manufactures PFOA in the US, has agreed to eliminate releases of the chemical from its manufacturing plants by 2015, but did not commit to completely phasing out its use of the chemical. This agreement is said to apply to not only Teflon used in cookware but in other products such as food packaging, clothing and carpeting. DuPont also stated that it cannot produce Teflon without the use of the chemical PFOA, although it is looking for a substitute.

It is noteworthy that PFOA is not part of the finished product of nonstick cookware or bakeware. It is only used during the manufacture of the product and only a trace amount of PFOA remains after the curing process. There should be no measurable amount of PFOA on a finished pan, provided that it has been properly cured.

PTFE powder will react violently when heated with powdered metals such as aluminum and magnesium to form carbon and the metal fluoride.

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[Some content from Wikipedia]

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