Non-Stick Coatings Harmful to Health

In a preliminary report, the West Virginia University team saidlast week that higher levels of PFOA in people are linked withlower levels of a protein that helps the body fight bacteria,viruses, and other pathogens. In earlier animal studies, PFOA exposure has been linked with deathof immune cells and weakening of the body's ability to protectitself from infection. Higher PFOA levels in West Virginia residents are associated withhigher levels of two enzymes that can indicate liver damage, andwith lower levels of a liver protein that is an important part ofthe body's defense against infection, the preliminary report finds. Elevated PFOA levels in children are associated with highcholesterol levels, predisposing children to future weight problemsand higher risk of heart disease. Thyroid function was clearly affected in people exposed to PFOA,with the effect strongest at moderate levels of exposure, ratherthan the highest exposures, the researchers found. "These findings may be preliminary, but they are very worrisome,because perfluorinated chemicals never break down," said OlgaNaidenko, PhD, senior scientist at the Non Stick Coatings, which is campaigning to eliminate PFOA in theenvironment. "Every molecule that is produced today will be around forever,continually cycling throughout the environment, food chain andpeople," said Naidenko. There are no federal safety standards for perfluorinated chemicalsin consumer products. DuPont and other manufacturers have pledgedto phase out PFOA, but not until 2015. In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said thateight major companies reported "significant drops in the release ofPFOA and related chemicals, putting industry on target to meet a 95percent reduction goal in PFOA emissions and product content by2010." Further reductions are anticipated by 2015. The eight companies are: Arkema, Asahi, Ciba, Clariant, Daikin,DuPont, 3M/Dyneon and Solvay Solexis. In November 2007, the federal Centers for Disease Control andPrevention in Atlanta reported results from their analysis of humanblood levels of PFOA collected in 2003-2004 and found a 25 percentreduction from levels found in samples collected in 1999-2000. Dupont says products made with PFOA are "safe for their intendeduses." "Studies have shown very low levels of PFOA and otherperfluorinated compounds in the environment and in the blood of thegeneral population," Dupont acknowledges on its website. "Questionsabout this, as well as customer interest in product alternatives,are leading DuPont to phase out the use and production of PFOA by2015 or earlier, if possible, and to develop new products andprocesses that are more environmentally sustainable," the companysays. Dupont points out that PFOA and Teflon are different - one is aprocessing aid, the other is a product brand. It is inaccurate todescribe PFOA as an ingredient in cookware coated with Teflon, thecompany says. PFOA is a processing aid used to manufacturefluoropolymers, some of which are sold under the Teflon