US suffering record levels of little-known illness ‘Teflon flu’ that spreads from common household appliance

Toxic fumes from non-stick frying pans The number of Americans hospitalized in 2023 was the highest on record.

In 2023, more than 250 patients were hospitalized with a little-known illness called “Teflon flu,” which causes fever, body aches and chills, according to the data.

Researchers at America’s poison centers say cases probably haven’t been this high since 2000, and the condition is rarely diagnosed because it’s so difficult to distinguish from other, more common illnesses.

When used properly, these pans are harmless, but many consumers are unsure of how to actually handle nonstick pans and have concerns about their safety. Missouri Poison center, alert.

“It really depends on people not cutting corners, following instructions and using things appropriately,” Weber said. The Washington Post.

There have been only 3,600 suspected cases of polymer fume fever in the past 20 years. 2023 saw the highest number of cases in decades, but researchers aren’t sure why, highlighting the need for greater awareness about how to best use these pots and pans.

The global market for non-stick frying pans is $1.7 billion in 2017 from $1.3 billion 2010. This suggests that as time goes on, more people may be buying frying pans.

Polymer fume fever occurs when nonstick cookware is heated above 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius), causing chemicals in the coating to break down and be released as a cloud of smoke that, when inhaled, can cause coughing, body aches, fever and chills.

The non-stick coating is made with PFAS, “forever chemicals” that burrow deep into the body and don’t break down. Because the condition is rare, scientists don’t know exactly how it works, but the irritation the chemicals cause in the lungs could lead to flu-like symptoms.

PFAS have also been linked to the following health conditions: Cancer, infertility, pregnancy complications.

Sometimes symptoms of the “Teflon flu” appear immediately after inhaling these particles, but sometimes it can take several hours for symptoms to appear.

This makes the condition difficult to report.

“That’s why people say, ‘Don’t put your Teflon pan on high heat,'” Zach Hudson, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of British Columbia, told The Washington Post.

Teflon is the brand name for a particular type of non-stick coating. It is the most widely known brand, but many other types of non-stick pans that don’t use Teflon have the same problem.

They’re all made from a chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is one of many types of PFAS.

A single exposure to small amounts of these chemicals will not cause any harm.

But using products containing PFAS daily for years can lead to a buildup of the chemicals in the body.

PFAS have also been found in tap water in some areas, cleaning products and food packaging. Natural Resources Defense Council.

The amount of PFAS that people are exposed to from nonstick pans is probably less than they would be exposed to from other sources, said Dan Jones, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and associate director of the PFAS Research Center. Michigan State University said.

“Most of us who work in this field would say that’s probably a very small percentage,” he told The Washington Post.

Both manufacturers and scientists say these pans are safe when used properly.

But because people can easily use them incorrectly, six of the scientists who spoke to The Washington Post said they try to avoid them altogether.

Improper use includes exposing the pan to temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, scratching the surface with metal utensils, or using it in the oven or dishwasher.

When you heat a pan, the chemicals in the coating break down and are released into the air as white smoke. If the pan is scratched, tiny pieces may fly off. The PTFE starts to flake off and gets into your food.

But Ian Cousins, an environmental chemist and professor at Stockholm University, told The Washington Post that eating these flakes is probably not dangerous.

PTFE chemicals are large and chemically difficult to break down in the body, so they are more likely to pass through the body without causing any effects, Professor Cousins ​​explained.

“I’m not actually worried about it, it just passes through your body,” he said, warning that inhaling the smoke should be avoided at all costs.

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said nonstick cookware “does not pose a safety concern for consumers.”

One of the easiest ways to keep your cookware from overheating and producing gases is to add butter or oil to your skillet before heating it, says Lisa McManus, executive tasting and testing editor at America’s Test Kitchen. He told CNET.

McManus said greasing a frying pan “can deposit invisible contaminants on the surface of the pan and form a barrier between the food and the Teflon surface when directly heated.”

If you want to avoid nonstick altogether, McManus suggests ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron pans instead.