Coming unstuck
New Zealand Listener|March 11-17 2023
Growing evidence shows damaged Teflon pans may release particles that endanger human health.
Coming unstuck

Question:

Our old Teflon-coated frying pan is scratched, so I plan to buy a new one. Are Teflon-coated frying pans still considered safe?

Answer:

The key to nonstick cookware coatings such as Teflon is a smooth ingredient called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Although PTFE has generally been considered a safe and stable coating for cookware, recent studies have shown that plastic compounds migrate into food and once the Teflon is damaged, millions of microplastic particles also leach from those scratches into the environment.

So, should we be concerned? PTFE belongs to a group of chemicals known for being highly stable and resistant to degradation. It has a very high melting point (327°C) and is resistant to many chemicals, hence its use as a cookware coating. PTFE is also considered biologically inert and non-biodegradable in the human body and so is used to coat pacemakers, line the tubes used to replace arteries, and in facial plastic surgery.

PTFE is also part of a group of compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have excellent chemical and thermal stability. More than 4700 known compounds belong to this group, many of which have been used for various commercial and industrial uses over the past 60 years. For example, these chemicals are used to treat paper products and packaging to improve their moisture and oil resistance. Microwave popcorn bags, for example, are often lined with these polymers.

The primary concern with PTFEs in the early 2000s was the discovery that a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) used to manufacture these nonstick coatings was linked to cancer and birth defects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer consequently classified PFOA as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND LISTENERView all
First-world problem
New Zealand Listener

First-world problem

Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Applying intelligence to AI
New Zealand Listener

Applying intelligence to AI

I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Nazism rears its head
New Zealand Listener

Nazism rears its head

Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Staying ahead of the game
New Zealand Listener

Staying ahead of the game

Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Grasping the nettle
New Zealand Listener

Grasping the nettle

Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Hangry? Eat breakfast
New Zealand Listener

Hangry? Eat breakfast

People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Chemical reaction
New Zealand Listener

Chemical reaction

Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Me and my guitar
New Zealand Listener

Me and my guitar

Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Time is on my side
New Zealand Listener

Time is on my side

Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?

time-read
7 mins  |
September 9, 2024
The kids are not alright
New Zealand Listener

The kids are not alright

Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024