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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   3035 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 1, 2023

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With 3M phasing out production of PFAS (Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances) in the news, I'm reading a flurry of news about how these substances are found in human blood, break down slowly--if at all, and are linked to cancer, hormone disregulation, and immune disorders.

My question is: is this a health threat I should be worried about to the point that I should be replacing my Teflon cooking pans?

My understanding is that most of the risk these substances pose comes from emissions created during the manufacturing process. Once the product is complete, though, it's pretty stable. I wouldn't heat up a dry pan to the point that it's fuming, but other than that they're pretty safe. The risk comes from living close to the plant where they're made.

If the pan is hot enough to say, sear meat, is that an issue?

Even if the chemical itself is stable (which AIUI is the root of the problem), is there a problem of the chemical leeching into the food?

First, the pan has to be ripping hot for that to happen and you will definitely smell the fumes. If you're already cooking with Teflon and haven't yet experienced any ill effects, I wouldn't worry about it. Even then, the problems it causes are temporary and not a chronic problem. With leeching, it's not so much that as it is flaking, as slick surfaces don't want to bond to anything including the underlying metal. But the inertness means that it's not reacting with your system, either, and should pass through without causing any harm. The problems caused during manufacturing are due to the precursor chemicals used in manufacture rather than the final chemical itself. Even if you're worried about Teflon, the pans should be the least of your concerns, since the same class of chemicals is used to coat a lot of food packaging (and other packaging) and is literally everywhere. The benefit of a good nonstick pan is well-worth the disadvantage of potentially marginally increasing exposure to a chemical that isn't known to be dangerous anyway.

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