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With the advent of technology, several innovations have greatly influenced many of our everyday activities as humans, including something as basic as cooking.
Recently, a Nigerian doctor, Patrick Ijewere, spoke on the popular radio station Nigeria Info, claiming the chemical process that forms Teflon, a major chemical used in producing non-stick pans is dangerous to women’s body systems.
He further noted that using non-stick pans could result in endocrine issues.
The doctor said: “There is a product we use very often called Teflon (non-stick pans). The factory where that chemical was developed by Du Pont initially to armourise tanks for World War had a very high incidence of women with endocrine problems and endocrine disorders including fertility and cancer.
“The chemical process that forms Teflon is highly controversial and damaging to the female system. So if your mother uses that kind of pot (non-stick pans) from the early years, she is setting you up for endocrine problems as you go into adulthood.
“Hence, when an adult shows up with fibroids or even infertility, the sad part is the system that is conventional doesn’t take time to go into the historical background and understand what we need to look for in the body and clear out of the body.”
Many social media users have shared the posts several times, suggesting that people should start using aluminium pots or clay pots, which are traditional in African society.
Components of non-stick pots
Non-stick pans are said to be coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), simply known as Teflon, a synthetic chemical comprising carbon and fluorine atoms.
Roy J Plunkett discovered it at the DuPont company in 1938. Reports claimed it was an accidental invention while the scientist was working on gas for refrigerants. It was later found that this mystery material wouldn’t break down at high temperatures, nor would it react or dissolve in any of the highly corrosive chemicals Plunkett tried.
Subsequently, US Army General Leslie Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, commissioned DuPont to design a plant that uses polytetrafluoroethylene seals and gaskets.
Since then, Teflon has been used for commercial purposes, including cookware, stain repellent for fabrics and textile products, coatings in harsh manufacturing environments, and other industrial products.
In the context of this article, the use of Teflon-coated cookware makes it easy to cook, and fry without having to worry about the food sticking to the pot or getting burnt, which in turn makes it convenient to clean. It also requires little oil or butter, making it a low-fat way to cook.
However, over time, there have been concerns regarding the use of non-stick pans and the link to some medical conditions.
Is there a link between non-stick cookware and infertility endocrine issues?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the human endocrine system comprises tissues that create and release hormones in the human body. Hormones are chemical messengers released into the bloodstream to act on an organ. They affect different processes, including growth, metabolism, and reproduction, etc.
A 2010 study carried out at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science reported that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) present in water-resistant clothes and non-stick frying pans can affect some hormones in the body, including oestrogen and testosterone—some hormones needed for reproductive function.
The Environmental Working Group advised that people limit their exposure to these pollutants that “can act as endocrine disruptors.” However, they noted that the chemicals might not necessarily damage the hormone but affect them.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences noted that endocrine disruptors are natural or man-made chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the endocrine system. These chemicals, it says, are complicit in many health problems in both wildlife and people.
It highlighted Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as one of the chemicals identified as endocrine disruptors. PFAS are known for resisting grease, oil, water, and heat. They are said to be part of the chemical processes that make up non-stick cookware.
The FDA, in a disclaimer issued in June 2024, explained that PFAs are a diverse group of thousands of chemicals used in various products. However, it says it had approved certain PFAS for limited use in cookware production, making them safe for home use. It noted, however, that “a very small amount of these chemicals can be released from cookware.”
The body explained that individual PFAs can be different, but all PFAS contain an extremely strong carbon-fluorine bond that does not degrade easily.
PFOA
According to a report by Healthline, concerns surrounding non-stick cookware and its potential link to certain medical conditions focus on a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was once used to produce non-stick cookware.
Since the 1940s, PFOA has produced various products, including non-stick pans.
Perfluorooctanoic acid has been linked to birth defects and other reproductive harm, with exposure to this chemical potentially increasing the risk of cancer.
PFOA has also been identified as a risk factor for health conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and thyroid disorders, among others.
But, in 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency invited eight major chemical companies to join a global stewardship program to eliminate PFOA from products and emissions from their industrial facilities by 2015.
As a result, PFOA is said to be absent in Teflon products (including cookware) produced in recent years. According to the report by Healthline, PFOA was used in the production of Teflon until 2013.
A similar article by PubMed explained that PFOA has since been replaced by other chemicals, such as GenX, though concerns about the toxicity of these alternatives remain.
Although research is still ongoing on the effect of these chemicals on human health, it is important to follow safe practices when using non-stick pans.
Safe ways to use non-stick pans
Avoid overheating pans: Studies have shown that non-stick pans are safe to use. When used at a normal temperature, but when heated at very high temperatures, the coating can start to degrade and emit potentially harmful fumes.
Also, it is advised that empty pans are not preheated without any food in them.
Replace pans with scratches: Any non-stick pan with scratched coatings, either due to overuse or burns, should be replaced with new ones.
Open kitchen windows: When cooking, the kitchen windows and/or doors should be left open for proper ventilation.
Proper cleaning: Non-stick pans should not be washed with iron sponges or scouring pads, as these can scratch the coatings. It is advisable to wash them gently with a soft sponge, soap, and water.
Look for PFOA-free non-stick pans: While PFOA is said to be absent in non-stick pans produced in 2013, older cookware could contain the chemical. Users are advised to specifically seek wares that are declared PFOA-free. Also, some countries have yet to ban the use of this product in the production of non-stick pans.
