Is a degraded Teflon pan toxic to all of its users?
We have an induction cooktop at home. We use a teflon pan from IKEA, roughly 24 cm in diameter. This pan is frequently used on level 7 of the induction stove. Based on limited measurement with an IR thermometer, I found out that this heats the pan to about 240 °C at least, and very likely past the 260 °C recommended limit since it often runs on this level for at least 10 minutes at a time.
I read that exceeding recommended temperatures causes the non-stick quality of the pan to degrade. I’ve also read that over a certain temperature (I think 300 °C), the Teflon may let out toxic fumes.
While the fumes are a concern in their own right, I wonder if future uses of the pan, even within the recommended temperature limits, could cause toxic chemicals to spill into the food that’s being cooked. This pan has definitely been overheated more than once, and I’d like to know about the health repercussions of this.
Best Answer
There is no current evidence that already-degraded PTFE (Teflon) poses any toxicity risks in its solid form. To quote the University of California School of Public Health:
There’s no evidence, however, that ingesting any PTFE flakes that might have degraded from the pan’s surface over time poses any health risk, and the American Cancer Society notes that “Teflon itself is not suspected of causing cancer.” That makes sense, considering that PTFE is an inert substance, which means it doesn’t react with other chemicals.
Tibbs Bioscience says:
PTFE is inert in its solid form, meaning it won’t react with other chemicals, which is what makes it such as great non-stick coating. As such, the minimal PTFE you would ingest will likely pass through the digestive tract without harm.
Other sources I checked had the same answer. The fumes from overheating PTFE are known to be unhealthful; the solids left behind have no known issues.
Note that the same is not true of another chemical that used to be used in Teflon, PFOA. Again, per Tibbs:
After repeated heating and cooling, it is possible that the PFOA could migrate into the food. Research suggests that PFOA interferes with hormonal balances as well as reproduction and fetal development
The problems with PFOA have caused manfucturers to stop using it in Teflon production. However, if you have an older Teflon pan (pre-2013), it may still have PFOA, as might Teflon pans outside the US and EU.
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Quick Answer about "Is a degraded Teflon pan toxic to all of its users?"
There is no current evidence that already-degraded PTFE (Teflon) poses any toxicity risks in its solid form.Is it safe to use old Teflon pans?
Is Chipped Teflon Coating a Health Concern? The use of PFOA in the manufacturing of Teflon-coated cookware has been completely stopped. But, even when PFOA is used, it poses little or no harm to your health.Are burnt Teflon pans toxic?
Teflon: Some nonstick pans are sealed with a Teflon coating that can contain PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) or PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), which can create toxic fumes when heated. These toxic fumes may cause what is known as \u201cpolymer fume fever.\u201d Symptoms include breathing difficulty, fever and sore throat.Is scratched Teflon cancerous?
Since 2013, all Teflon-branded products are PFOA-free. Though there is some research that suggests a link between PFOA and cancer, there's no proven link between Teflon and cancer.What are the symptoms of Teflon poisoning?
Symptoms are flu-like (chills, headaches and fevers) with chest tightness and mild cough. Onset occurs about 4 to 8 hours after exposure to the pyrolysis products of PTFE. A high white blood cell count may be seen and chest x-ray findings are usually minimal.Dangerous Cookware We Should Not Use! Which Cookware Is Safe? Dr Goldhamer \u0026 Dr Greger
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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