Are there any harmful effects of teflon?

Answer 1

Yes, there are harmful effects of Teflon.

At high temperatures, cookware coated with Teflon and other non-stick surfaces can break apart and emit toxic particles and gases. The fumes can make people sick, while pet birds are even more sensitive. In cases of "Teflon toxicosis," as the bird poisonings are called, the lungs of exposed birds hemorrhage and fill with blood, leading to suffocation. DuPont studies show that the fumes can also sicken people, a condition called "polymer fume fever." The government has not assessed human health risks or the incidence of polymer fume fever from kitchen exposures to these particles and gases when pans are overheated.

Non-stick coatings can contain residues of PFOA (perfluorooctanoate), a chemical used to make Teflon and a breakdown product of stain- and grease-proof coatings on carpet, clothing and food packaging. PFOA is found in the bodies of nearly all Americans. It is a likely human carcinogen; it also has a variety of metabolic developmental, reproductive, endocrine, and neurobiological health effects. Many manufacturers of non-stick cookware have committed to eliminating PFOA residues from non-stick coatings. Available data suggest that non-stick pans are not a major source of PFOA in people's bodies.

Studies also show that most of the potential health risks from non-stick pans, such as polymer fume fever, come not from PFOA but from other particles and fumes that can come off the pan when it is overheated.