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Are non-stick pans at risk of cancer?

Experts tend to agree that the non-stick pan itself is not a problem, its coating is considered non-toxic. Even if you ingest small pieces of it, it’s okay.

However, some experts are concerned that, when the non-stick pan is overheated, the PTFE coating will begin to decompose and will release a series of harmful gases. In rare cases, breathing in these chemical fumes can cause polymer fume fever, a condition characterized by high fever, difficulty breathing, and weakness. These gases are also deadly to birds.

Of particular concern is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the chemicals released when nonstick pans heat up. Long-term exposure to PFOA is linked to a range of diseases, including cancer and thyroid disease, scientists say.

Are non-stick pans at risk of cancer?  - first

The non-stick pan grilling steak is delicious, but too high a temperature will easily produce harmful gases.

Some comments indicate that, there have been no studies specifically analyzing the long-term effects of non-stick pans on humans. Instead, new studies have focused solely on the health effects of chemical byproducts such as PFOA. Much of the data on these toxins comes from environmental exposures – such as drinking water or factory environments, where exposure levels are much higher from nonstick cookware. “In general, non-stick pans are not dangerous,” says Kyle Steenland, a professor of environmental health at Emory University in Atlanta (USA).

Steenland and other scientists also suggest that people don’t cook at high enough temperatures for these chemical reactions to take place. Because no one can cook at such a high temperature because that temperature is enough to set the house on fire,

However, research shows that pans can easily reach temperatures hot enough to break down the non-stick coating. A group of researchers in Canada published a 2001 study in the journal Nature, in which non-stick pans failed at 360 degrees Celsius. Non-stick pans can reach 399 degrees Celsius if left for eight minutes at room temperature. high temperatures on stoves, according to a 2017 paper published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research. And at lower temperatures, the non-stick coating still deteriorates over time, according to a 1998 paper published in the journal Polymer Degradation and Stability. If you regularly heat your pan to 260 C (steak roasting temperature), it will have a lifespan of about 2.3 years, according to a 2001 Nature study.

In 2015, PFOA was voluntarily phased out in the US, but the chemical is still widely used in China. However, it is possible that the clear non-stick coating known as PTFE can still produce PFOA when it fails, the study found.

Taking good care of your non-stick pans can help keep your kitchen safe. It’s really important that you use the pan on low to medium heat, and that you don’t use utensils that could scratch it.

In particular, pregnant, nursing or nursing women are advised not to use non-stick pans as it is associated with child development issues. That’s because the chemical is considered an endocrine disruptor, which means it interferes with the body’s hormone system.

According to a 2012 article published in the Journal of Molecular Biology and Steroid Biochemistry, PFOA exposure increased estrogen in male rats and slowed mammary gland development in female rats. In humans, this chemical has been linked to obesity, diabetes, low sperm quality and irregular menstrual cycles – potential signs of an endocrine disorder.

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