Serving Size: 4.82 MB Servings Per Container: 1 In Your Body On Your Body For Your Home For Your Family Seeking Medical Treatment How to Detoxify Your Body Guide to Symptoms A Healthy House Values, Vision & Mission Background & History Staff & Advisors News & Upcoming Events Join Our Mailing List Contact Us Recommended Resources Index of Terms Works Cited This product contains 100% natural ingredients. Easy Pay Pal Donations TNTP Grade A Brain-food More Special Features Home Decor  |  Home Furnishings  |  Household Cleaners  |  Kitchenware  |  Lawn & Garden  |  Plastic Page: 1 | 2 Back Nonstick Cookware CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Non-stick pans (along with furniture, cosmetics, household cleaners, clothing, and packaged food containers) can all contain perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), many of which break down into Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the environment or in the human body. PFOA is not one of the chemicals in non-stick cookware, but because it is used in the manufacturing process it has been found in trace amounts on the products. There have been varying opinions amongst researchers as to whether or not nonstick cookware is a significant source of exposure to PFCs and PFOA. PFOA has been the focus of growing concern and testing for safety and possible health effects in recent years. It has been measured at low levels (low parts per billion) in the blood of the general U.S. population, including children and the elderly, and in umbilical cord blood. It accumulates and remains in our bodies for years. PFOA and other PFCs are considered persistent organic pollutants—they break down very slowly or not at all. Nonstick cookware coatings can release toxic fine particles and gases when heated. Makers of nonstick coatings, have maintained that their pans have to be heated to very high temperatures to be of any concern, but a recent study found that toxic chemicals were released from pans heated to temperatures consistent with common usage. It has been well-documented for many years that the fumes from heating nonstick coatings can sicken or kill pet birds . The EPA classifies PFOA as a likely human carcinogen, and as of March 2006 announced that it could no longer conclude that PFCs will not pose an “unreasonable risk” to human health and the environment. Toxic effects at high doses in laboratory animals include neurotoxic, reproductive, developmental, and carcinogenic. HEALTH CONCERNS: Studies on the potential health effects of PFOA and other PFCs by the EPA and independent researchers began in the late 1990’s. The chemical companies that make or have made PFOA have conducted studies over the past 40 years on potential health effects of PFOA and other PFCs, but most of these studies have only recently been released to government agencies and the general public because of recent legal actions against the companies and moves to regulate PFCs by the EPA. Science is just beginning to study how we are exposed to PFCs, the chemicals’ toxicity to humans, and at what exposure levels toxic effects can occur. We are just beginning to understand the potential dangers of PFCs. What we do know is that most of us carry these chemicals in our blood, we don’t know how they’ve gotten there, and there is enough evidence of adverse health effects, even at low exposure levels, for serious concern. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: Avoid pots and pans with non-stick coatings. Use stainless steel, cast iron, glass and ceramic pots and pans instead. A well-seasoned cast iron pan is almost as easy to clean as a nonstick pan! Anodized aluminum pans, which have been treated with a process that “seals” the metal, seem to be safe -- we haven’t seen any studies yet that indicate that chemicals leach from them. If you do use nonstick pans, don’t heat very high, and don’t use with metal utensils. If coating looks scratched or chipped, discard. Plastic Wrap CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Plastic wrap was first made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), which remains the most common material. Non-PVC alternatives, such as wrap made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) are now being sold because of concerns about the leaching of plasticizers and vinyl chloride into the food. PVC is the most common plastic wrap in food service applications, but LDPE is being used more often in household plastic wraps. HEALTH CONCERNS: The chemical building block used to make PVC, vinyl chloride monomer, has demonstrated toxic properties and is linked to respiratory problems, reproductive problems, and cancer from occupational exposure from the processing of PVC. It is also a known human carcinogen. The plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA), which has well-documented estrogenic properties, has also been demonstrated to leach from PVC food packaging film. The levels of BPA observed to leach from PVC film were lower than regulatory limits, but still considered significant. Plastic made from PVC is hard and brittle. To soften PVC plastic and make it more flexible, various types of plasticizers may be added. These plasticizers have been demonstrated to leach from the plastic into foods, liquids, saliva, and even air and water that comes in contact with it. One type of plasticizer, a group of chemicals called phthalates, has been linked to health concerns including asthma and impaired respiratory function, endocrine-disrupting, hormonal, and reproductive effects, and possibly cancer. Several studies have shown that antioxidants added to LDPE food wraps and packages can leach into foods, mostly within regulated levels, with some exceptions. NOTE: even if a single chemical is observed to migrate into our food and water within regulated levels for that chemical, it doesn’t mean it is entirely safe. Research is just beginning to address the potential combined effects of the many chemicals we come in contact with. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: Use glass jars to store your food. If you keep your leftovers in a bowl, cover the bowl with a ceramic plate instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper and butcher paper can be used to wrap, store, and freeze food in. If you do use plastic wraps, try not to let it touch your food and definitely remove it from the container before heating it in a microwave. Page: 1 | 2 Back