Teflon is a household product used to make things like saucepans and grills slippery and heat resistant. It has revolutionized the cooking industry by making cookware more sturdy and manageable, providing easy clean-up after use and more control over heat distribution. It was discovered in 1938 by DuPont chemist Roy Plunkett, who had been attempting to find a refrigerant at the time. It was used during the “Manhattan Project” when General Leslie Groves learned of its resistant properties and ordered his scientists to use it on the gaskets in order to resist the bomb’s corrosive gas, uranium hexaflouride. By 1950, DuPont was making millions a year by advertising the substance as a low-friction coating for gears and ball bearings. The coating found its way into kitchenware in the 60’s. It was also eventually used as a stain-protectant for carpets and drapes, as well as a lining for medical implants as the substance is one of few that isn’t rejected by the human body.
The problem with Teflon in kitchenware is that when the materal is heated to a temperature higher than 600 degrees Farenheit, it breaks down and releases chemical fumes composed partially of perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA. PFOA is a proven carcinogen (observed through animal studies) which is known for causing nerve-damage and death as well as cancer. In humans, a reversible flulike condition known as polymer-fume fever can be developed with adverse effects on the human system. Due to the popularity of Teflon and other harmful materials with this issue, about 95% of Americans have traces of PFOA in their blood. While there has not been a study directly linking Teflon to death or harm in humans, DuPont was recently forced to settle a $107.6 million lawsuit wherein 50,000 West Virginia residents claimed that the materal caused PFOA poisoning in its residents near the Ohio River resulting in birth defects and other health problems. DuPont has pledged to reduce the amount of PFOA used in Teflon in order to minimize the dangerous emissions into the environment by 2015.
Those who are still in contact with Teflon and other non-stick cookware should keep in mind that it is dangerous to use the slippery wares in high heats, especially when empty. Submerging hot, non-stick pots and pans into cold water is also dangerous as it promotes fume emission.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a dangerous product like Teflon, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney such as Jonathan R. Mani & Damon L. Ellis of the Mani Ellis Law Firm in West Virginia.
