Source: ABC News
So much for my previous post: LA Times: California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals
Meanwhile…
“On the same day Governor Schwarzenegger touted himself as the leader of a comprehensive chemical reform program, he vetoed a bill that would have made California the first state to ban toxic chemicals known as PFCs – a family of compounds including Teflon – from food packaging.” California Progress Report
Teflon is commonly used on cookware as a non-stick coating. Its been known for over twenty years that Teflon cookware used in the home is highly fatal to birds to the point that its been listed as the leading cause of death for pet birds. Death to the birds can happen under very normal domestic cooking conditions, even when the cooking is done in another part of the home.
I remember about fifteen years ago, me and my mother went shopping for a bird and the Avian Veterinarian adamantly told us not to use any Teflon coated products in the house if we decided to purchase one of the birds. After that, my mother got rid of everything Teflon in the house stating that “if it can kill birds, what is it doing to us?”
In terms of what its doing to us, Teflon, which is a known carcinogen, has been found in the blood of many Americans. Teflon is not only used in pots and pans, but also popcorn bags and other convenience, microwaveable food containers.
“PFOA seems to be in the blood of most Americans, as found in studies that examined blood from American blood banks, and is likely to be in the blood of most of the rest of us as well. PFOA enters into our bodies very easily through the cooked food when the non-stick pan is either scratched, or when it is heated, (which is what we do with pans and popcorn bags) Popcorn bags seem to cause higher exposures to PFOA compared to non-stick cookware, as a chemical in the packaging migrates into the oil which coats the popcorn which we then eat, and the chemical then degrades into PFOA in our bodies. Heated Teflon also releases toxic fumes which we inhale.” Teflon is hazardous to our health – Trusted MD
Currently, the research isnt very clear as to what it does to the human body, but the fact that its a carcinogen and fatal to birds is reason enough to avoid it in our homes.
Canaries in the Kitchen: Teflon Toxicosis: Teflon kills birds
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