U.S. Urged to Put Warning Labels on Teflon Cookware

November 18, 2006

Source: Reuters

Published: May 15, 2003

The Environmental Working Group asked the Consumer Product Safety

Commission to require manufactures of cookware to place warning

labels on their products that caution consumers of the potential

health risks of the non-stick coating.

According to a study by the advocacy group, pots and pans coated

with Teflon could reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit (370 C) in 3-5

minutes, releasing 15 harmful gases and chemicals, including two

carcinogens.

The advocacy group also said that internal documents from DuPont

Co., which produces Teflon, indicated that toxic particles that can

kill birds are produced at temperatures as low as 464 degrees (240

C).

" If Teflon fumes kill birds, what do they do to people? " said Jane

Houlihan, a vice president with the Environmental Working Group who

said consumers often exceed 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 C) when they

cook.

To this day there have been no studies conducted that investigate

the long-term impact on humans. Teflon and other nonstick chemicals

can produce flu-like symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath,

a condition called polymer fume fever.

" We know of no adverse conditions or long-term affects associated

with polymer fume fever, and if that were the case, we would have

known about it and would have reported it, " said Cliff Web, a

spokesman for DuPont.

DuPont has acknowledged that cookware heated below 500 degrees is

harmful to birds. Also company officials have said that it is not

safe to use cookware in temperatures above 500 degrees.

Read Full Story at Reuters

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