#teflon

A surprising new method finally makes teflon recyclable

New research has identified a straightforward and environmentally friendly way to decompose Teflon, one of the most resilient plastics in use today, and convert it into valuable chemical ingredients. Scientists at Newcastle University and the University of Birmingham have created a clean, energy-saving process for recycling Teflon (PTFE), which is widely recognized for its role in non-stick cookware and in products that must withstand high temperatures and harsh chemicals. The team found that discarded Teflon can be broken apart and reused with only sodium metal and mechanical movement by shaking -- all at room temperature and without toxic solvents.

At normal cooking tempera- tures, PTFE-coated cookware releases various gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity. Only few stud- ies describe the toxicity of PTFE but without solid conclu- sions. The toxicity and fate of ingested PTFE coatings are also not understood. Moreover, the emerging, persistent, and well- known toxic environmental pollutant PFOA is also used in the synthesis of PTFA. There are some reports where PFOA was detected in the gas phase released from the cooking utensils under normal cooking temperatures. Due to toxicity concerns, PFOA has been replaced with other chemicals such as GenX, but these new alternatives are also suspected to have similar toxicity. [...]

While in another report, PFOA was reported to release into the gas phase at 7–337 ng (11–503 pg/cm2) per pan from four brands of nonstick frying pans under normal cooking temperatures (179 to 233 °C surface temperature). After repeated use, one brand showed a significant decrease in gas-phase PFOA, whereas with other brands, there was no significant decline in gas phase PFOA. This study suggested that residual PFOA is not completely removed during the fabrication process of the nonstick coating for cookware. These residuals remain on the surface and may be off-gassed when heated at normal cooking temperatures (Ewan et al. 2007).

teflon/PTFE/PTFA/PFOA type chemicals are going to be the asbestos/lead/cigarettes of our generation probably, but worse because it is affecting the global climate and ecology web and not just poisoning people in their cars and houses. just a massive, massive coverup that has been going on for decades at this point and with consequences that are basically inescapable. you already have teflon in your organs and blood and bones and so do i. limiting further exposure is probably a good idea but i dont think we have longitudinal studies yet on "mortality of people who cooked on teflon for 40 years vs people who didnt" so we just dont know.