PTFE and PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) - Teflon
Further to my earlier note following are some data that I dug up on Teflon. We are getting too many toxic fluorine compounds form pesticides, water and food and now cooking utensils...
See also:
'Green Gasoline' Benzene Leukemia Risk In Children Confirmed ...
Chris Gupta
------------------------Comments from Paul Connett, PhD:
Teflon is the trade name for the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) used in electrical insulating tape; combustion engines; chemical apparatus and tubing designed to resist attack from most chemicals, and in non-stick frying pans and other cookware.
Prior to this article there have been stories about caged birds dying in kitchens after fires involving Teflon cookware, suggesting the emissions of toxic gases when this polymer is burned.
This article is more serious because the researchers did not burn the Teflon but simply heated it. Presumably, typical cooking procedures would also heat the Teflon to the temperature range investigated by these researchers. Thus, this material that is perceived by most as being benign, could be a source of both significant indoor and outdoor air pollution.
This is another nasty indication that the world of organofluorine compounds could be going the same way as their more famous cousins: the organochlorine compounds. In the latter case most of these products, such as organochlorine pesticides, solvents and PVC plastic (despite the toxic generating manufacturing processes that produce them) were perceived as benign.
However, they had several problems:
They tended to be very persistent in the environment
They are fat soluble and resistent to normal detoxification processes in the liver
They accumulate and concentrate in animal and human body fat,
They get passed on by the mother to the fetus through the placental membrane and then to the infant via breastmilk,
A number of them are endocrine disrupting chemicals (i.e. they interfere with the production or performance of hormones, which are the messengers produced in special glands to regulate body chemisty) To top it all, when these substances are burned in any facility ranging from a back yard burner to a trash incinerator, they produce highly toxic byproducts including dioxins and furans ( PCDDs and PCDFs). Twelve of these compounds (or families of compounds) were the subject of the POPs (persistent organic pollutants) treaty signed in Stockholm last May by many countries around the world, including the US
This surface-active agent, which is a component of plasticizers, lubricants, wetting agents, emulsifiers and other products, appear to enter the body through contact with or ingestion of commercial products. It has a very long half-life (approx. 1.5 years) in human males (Ubel et al., 1980)". Thus the question raised by this new report in Nature is how many of the byproducts from heating Teflon are accumulating insidiously in our bodies like PFOA? Are any being passed onto the fetus? Will any of them turn out to be endocrine disrupters?
Full article at:
Your Teflon Frying Pan May Be Causing Problems
EPA Issues Powerful Indictment Of Chemical in Teflon Government Scientists Find Blood of U.S. Population Is Contaminated At Levels That Could Cause Harm EWG Concludes That Health Risks Are Even Higher Than Agency Believes
EWGs preliminary review of the EPA risk assessment and other studies conducted by industry indicates that some children already have blood levels of PFOA at or above the levels that cause serious toxicity in laboratory studies.
Both EPAs and EWGs analyses conclude that current PFOA exposures in children are well above safe levels.
More at:
EPA Files New Complaint Against DuPont
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Re: DuPonts failure to submit key health studies under the requirements of TSCA 8(e), 15 U.S.C. § 2607(e).
In a 1981 internal company study (attached as Exhibit A) DuPont found quantifiable levels of PFOA in umbilical cord blood from one baby, and the blood of another baby, both of whom were born to women working in the companys Teflon plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia. This study provided evidence that PFOA crosses the placenta and exposes a fetus in utero, at a time when DuPont had accumulated a significant body of knowledge on the toxicity of PFOA.
The study documentation, made public through litigation, shows that DuPont measured PFOA in the blood of eight pregnant women employed at the plant, and for seven of these women recorded information on the babys health after birth. DuPont found quantifiable levels of PFOA in the blood of seven of eight women tested, at concentrations ranging up to 2.5 parts per million (ppm). DuPont found PFOA in umbilical cord blood from one baby at a concentration of 0.055 ppm, and in the blood of another baby at a concentration of 0.012 ppm. The study documentation shows that two of seven women gave birth to babies with birth defects, one an "unconfirmed" eye and tear duct defect, and one a nostril and eye defect. That same year, DuPont reassigned 50 women at the plant to reduce PFOA exposure. We have thoroughly reviewed 8(e) submissions from DuPont regarding PFOA, and find no record of this study in the Agencys files.
Full article at:
http://www.ewg.org/issues/pfcs/20030411/letter.php
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CBRNE - Lung-Damaging Agents, Toxic Smokes: Nox, Hc, Rp, Fs, Fm, Sgf2, Teflon
Teflon particles
Pyrolysis of Teflon occurs at approximately 450°C. The mixture of particles that is produced contains a substance called perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB), which appears to be the main cause of toxicity in polymer fume fever. The ultrafine particles initiate a severe inflammatory response at low inhaled particle mass concentrations, which suggests an oxidative injury. PMNs may regulate the inflammatory process with cytokine and antioxidant expression.
PFIB particles cause an extremely rapid toxic effect on pulmonary tissues. Evidence of microscopic perivascular edema is observed within 5 minutes. Less intense exposures are followed by a latent period during which normal physiologic compensatory measures to control developing pulmonary edema ensue. Once these mechanisms are overcome, the time frame of which depends upon the degree of exposure, the clinical syndrome of fume fever follows. More intense exposures also may produce a chemical conjunctivitis. Hemorrhagic inflammation of the lungs also can occur.
Full article at:
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic908.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks for this article Richard, I have been aware of deaths of small animals from Teflon fumes, ever since I have not used these utensils. In my mind all fluoride based chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid in this case, are toxic. I have redirected your note to the list hopefully someone with more knowledge can respond to this issue.
Chris Gupta
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Chris Gupta
What are your opinions on PTFE and PFOA as found in non-stick Teflon coatings in pans and in Gore-Tex waterproof/breatheable linings in coats/clothing ? I heard it mentioned on the radio here in the UK. This link shows a brief article:http://www.sundayherald.com/print33754
I would be interested to know what actual observeable effects these chemicals have on the human body, and whether it would be possible to eliminate them from our systems with Milk Thistle herb ?
Many Thanks,
Richard
posted by Chris Gupta on Tuesday December 14 2004
updated on Saturday September 24 2005URL of this article:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2004/12/14/_ptfe_and_pfoa_perfluorooctanoic_acid_teflon.htm
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