Dangers of Teflon Poisoning

A suggested solution to preventing PFOA from showing up inside people is to simply stop making the chemical altogether. One toxicologist said, "We're already to the point where it is in people and getting near the point where there's significant risk."

Teflon-giant DuPont was charged with violating United States' toxic substance laws after it allegedly covered up the results of blood tests on pregnant chemical workers from the early 1980s.

In a group of seven female DuPont staff, two mothers gave birth to children with confirmed or suspected birth defects similar to those seen in a disputed laboratory rat study.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) charges that DuPont failed to provide immediate notification of tests showing "substantial risk of injury to human health", including birth defects and liver damage.

PFOA, a chemical found in products ranging from clothes to stain repellents (Scotchgard), to food packaging and cosmetics, and a component of Teflon production, poses developmental and reproductive risks to humans, according to a risk assessment form the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Current PFOA exposures in children may be well above safe levels, and some children have high enough blood levels of PFOA to cause serious toxicity in laboratory studies.

Some of the effects of these chemicals:
Children's health and development problems.   Risks of liver, pancreatic, testicular and mammary gland tumors.  Altered thyroid hormone regulation.  Damage to the immune system.  Reproductive problems and birth defects

In December 2002 a family lost more than 55 birds after a defective nonstick pan on their stove overheated when the water burned off. Despite their efforts to ventilate the house after they noticed the smoldering pan, one by one they lost three Blue and Gold Macaws, a Camelot Macaw, one Scarlet Macaw, 2 sun conures, 2 nanday conures, 2 tags, 4 parrolets, and over 40 cockatiels. [1]  Also 2 Boston Terrier puppies.

“As I walked into the kitchen, I saw the pan that was smoldering. The pan had been full of water and the burner turned off, but a short circuit had turned it on even though the handle/ indicator said it was off. I then noticed a sun conure flying by dropping to the ground, also, immediately dead."

”The next few hours are the hardest I will probably ever go through. One by one the birds were dying. Agonizing, screaming... we opened up everything in the house. It was snowing and freezing. I placed fans everywhere to exhaust the fumes. (I lost 2 Boston Terrier puppies from pneumonia 2 days later)... We did our best to hold each and every one of the macaws as they were dying, I didn't want them to be alone in their pain. In my mind will always be etched my husband  holding Caleb, the Camelot Macaw, and Max, a Nanday tucked under his shirt, as I went down the steps to pull DeeDee, a 50+ Blue and Gold and hold her as she was screeching her last breaths away.... My husband sounded so vulnerable as he screamed out, "Oh God, Not DeeDee."

Sources for Teflon Poisoning article:
Seattle Times October 1, 2004
Environmental Working Group October, 2004 and March 28, 2003
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