A chemical in Teflon and other cookware serves up more than just food. The US Environmental Protection
Agency announced
that they have asked the 8 largest manufacturers that use chemicals known as perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, to
reduce production by 95 per cent by 2010 and to stop using it completely by 2015 because they have been shown to cause
cancer and reproductive problems. They are classifying the chemicals in the same way that they classify mercury and
lead - as a poison that remains in the body forever - but it is disturbing to note that these are found in almost every
American. It is possible that it is present in far more people around the world, but some countries do not monitor the
presence of perfluorochemicals (PFCs). The chemicals are used in nonstick cookware, water and grease resistant products
and packaging, microwave popcorn bags, in addition to non-food related items, such as textiles and carpeting.
Companies such as Dupont, which has been involved in lawsuits before regarding their use of the PFOA known as C8, have up until this time stood by a claim that their perfluorochemicals are nonhazardous, despite evidence that they knew it was harmful. Dupont and others are now publicly pledging their support to eliminate the use of potentially hazardous chemicals in their products.
