Non-Stick Pots & Pans - Do They Release Harmful Chemicals?

It seems like the "Green Movement" is building momentum. Green advocates tell us to try environmental friendly alternatives for the many things we do or use in our lives... Things like driving hybrid vehicles to using paper instead of plastic bags.

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Now there are Green alternatives to the non-stick cooking pots and pans. Some believe the non-Green non-stick cookware releases harmful chemicals into the air if used with high temperature.

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Consumer Union tested several brands of non-stick pots and pans and their testing equipment didn't detect any significant amount of toxic pollutants being given off.

Regardless, if you are still concern about the claims, there are Green non-stick pots and pans available that range from 0 to 0 for 10 piece sets. Consumer Union tested these for their non-stick performance and durability. Many performed well, but in one brand the handles fell off.

Just because we believe we should protect our environment doesn't mean we need to buy everything that is labeled "Green." Stainless steel pots and pans are alternatives to non-Green non-stick pots and pans. They aren't as easy to clean but they are environmental friendly.

Cast iron cookware is also another alternative to non-stick cookware. The disadvantage is that they are heavier than stainless steel. The bare cast iron pots and pans take a bit of effort to clean depending on what you cook.

However, some manufacturers have improved the cooking surfaces so that they are almost non-stick and clean fairly easily. Le Creuset is a brand that makes mostly cast-iron cookware and the interior is enamel coated making them non-stick.

So you see we don't have to toss everything out in our kitchen if it isn't labeled as "Green." Many things we use in our kitchen are already environmentally safe.

Copyright © Jon Chan

Non-Stick Pots & Pans - Do They Release Harmful Chemicals?

Afraid of harmful toxic chemicals being released from your non-stick pots and pans? Read our reviews of environmentally friendly cookware sets at http://www.1-online-stores.com/category/cookware/ and feel good about cooking while saving the earth.

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Be Informed - Non-Stick Pans Pose Danger

I used a non-stick frying pan up until 4 years ago which is when I read a Dr. Mercola article on the dangers of non stick cookware. I had no idea that Teflon or other non-stick coatings were dangerous to health!

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Non-stick cookware has become a norm in our world of ease and convenience, and has been around since 1938. It is actually very hard to find a single frying pan that isn't non-stick in stores.

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Non-stick coatings on cooking pans contain highly poisonous chemical substances and can release very harmful gases and particles when heated during everyday cooking, according to research published by the Environmental Working Group.

What is Dangerous About Teflon and Non-Stick Cookware?

A synthetic chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid, and known as either PFOA or C8, is used in the manufacture of Teflon and non-stick pans.

When Teflon or nonstick pans are heated, the coating can break apart and release toxic particles and gases. DuPont, the manufacturers of Teflon pans, has released data which shows the temperatures required to release these gases. Their results show that:

Teflon begins to emit gases at around 464°F At 680°F Teflon emits up to 6 toxic gases, including 2 carcinogens, 2 global pollutants, and MFA (a chemical deadly to humans at low doses)

A test published by the Environmental Working Group shows that a Teflon pan can easily be heated to above 720°F in five minutes during the normal process of pre-heating. Teflon and non-stick coatings become more harmful the older and more scratched they become.

The Impact of Teflon and Non-Stick Cookware

Although the long term impact of the chemicals and fumes released from Teflon are not fully understood, we do know that they pose a very real danger to birds, and that they can make humans ill.

'Teflon toxicosis' is a condition that occurs in birds when they are exposed to the gases released from Teflon. Their lungs hemorrhage, causing them to fill up with fluid which leads to suffocation. Bird owners should never use non-stick cookware or Teflon pans.

'Polymer fume fever' is a human reaction to the gases emitted by hot Teflon. Many people experience this condition without realizing it as its symptoms are very similar to influenza. They include fever, chills and nausea. We do not know the long term effects on humans of polymer fume fever or the exposure to Teflon coatings.

Dr. Mercola mentions that other unrelated studies have also found evidence of birth defects in babies from PFOA-exposed workers. In 1981, 2 out of 7 women who worked at a non-stick coating plant gave birth to babies with birth defects. He also mentions that Teflon may cause infertility.

Alternatives to Teflon and Non-Stick Cookware

Rest assured there are plenty of alternatives to Teflon pans and non-stick cookware, and they'll probably cook your food more effectively too.

A non-stick alternative to Teflon pans is ceramic cookware (Mercola.com has a good brand) which are inert, will last a lifetime, and can easily be washed in the dishwasher. Glass and stainless steel are great alternatives, which are all safe to use.

To your health,

Kim Duess

You Be Healthy

References:

ewg.org/node/8296

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/6/non-stick-cookware-continues-to-prove-its-toxicity.aspx

Be Informed - Non-Stick Pans Pose Danger

Kim Duess is a proactive health guru and is passionate about natural health. She is the founder of http://You-Be-Healthy.com and Epic Nutrients and MightyOmega.

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