The EPA has asked eight manufacturers to cease production of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a suspected carcinogen used in the making of Teflon. The manufacturers have been requested to reduce PFOA production 95 percent by 2010, and stop using it altogether by 2015.
In Most People's Blood
PFOA is currently used to make water- and grease-proof products, including microwave popcorn bags, non-stick cookware, and upholstery. It is found in the blood of upwards of 95 percent of Americans, and it has been linked to cancer in animal studies.
DuPont
Considering all the bad news stemming from DuPont's negligent behavior regarding PFOA, this sounds like a great idea, right?
But, here's the catch: This cutback is completely voluntary, according to the Environmental Working Group, because the Toxic Substances Control Ban doesn't give the EPA the authority to enact a ban.
Hard to believe a chemical flowing through the bloodstreams of nearly every U.S. citizen and tied to so many common household products can't be legally banned by a federal agency like the EPA, but it's true.
Of course, there are less toxic alternatives, including a similar chemical made of four carbon atoms instead of the eight found in PFOA, that don't accumulate in your body under consideration. Of course, manufacturers like DuPont could have switched to those alternatives long ago -- but they didn't, being as usual more concerned with their profit than your well-being.
Even if PFOA is phased out over the course of a decade, you need to take the situation into your own hands. The first step is to toss out every pan in your house that has Teflon on it. The moment you heat the pan it starts to vaporize and this toxic chemical will go into your bloodstream.
Last year one of our columnists, Gary Craig, posted his story of relieving a long standing health challenge which resolved nearly immediately after he threw out his Teflon pans. His story results in many dozens of others who wrote us of similar stories.
I know it is hard to believe, but it is true. It took me a few years to become convinced, but once you are aware of this truth you simply have no logical choice but to throw those pans out and never buy another one.
Do not leave them in your home or you will be tempted to use them. Please believe me; I am absolutely convinced they are very dangerous and you should not be exchanging the convenience for the health damage.
For the sake of your health and that of your family, you should enact a Teflon ban in your home on both cookware and contaminated paper products such as the paper bags of microwave popcorn you thought were safe.