Teflon Flu: Illness Caused By Non-Stick Pan
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29 July 2024
US has reported more than 3,600 cases of “polymer fume fever,” a flu-like illness linked to a chemical coating found on some nonstick pans
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The condition has been coined as "Teflon Flu", named after the trademarked name of the popular nonstick coating
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Polytetrafluoroethylene, the ingredient in Teflon and many other nonstick cookware sets is a member of the PFAS class of chemicals, also referred to as "forever chemicals"
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In a study in Germany, researchers recorded the PFAS emissions from heating empty non-stick pans for half an hour
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The researchers noted that the pan that reached the highest temperature, around 698 degrees Fahrenheit, had the highest emissions
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Non-stick cookware should never be preheated, according to experts, and normal cooking techniques on medium to low heat won't produce temperatures this high
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People who leave a heated non-stick pan alone have been reported to have case reports of polymer fume fever
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They should also use exhaust fans or open windows when cooking
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Experts also warn against the use of stainless steel or hard utensils on nonstick pans
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