Teflon: helpful or harmful?

Today, many people have kitchen pans lined with Teflon. This non-stick chemical has made cooking a much easier process for people across the country. Companies also use Teflon to line candy wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags and hundreds of other food containers. It has proven to be a success in preventing food products from sticking to their container.

But is this a safe chemical? Due to the accusations of a former employee of Dupont, there is has been an increased concern about the safety of Teflon. Within Teflon, a chemical by the name of zonyl exists. And according to an article on msnbc.com, zonyl was recently put under observation. The concern is that once zonyl gets inside a human body, it turns into a substance known as PFOA, which has been documented as damaging to the health of animals and could possibly be damaging to the health of humans. “The Environmental Protection Agency has been trying to decide whether to classify PFOA as a “likely” human carcinogen” (Associated Press).

Dupont has also faced several lawsuits regarding their use of dioxin – a chemical believed to cause cancer in humans. “[A]n oyster fisherman who claimed dioxin from a Dupont plant caused his rare blood cancer was awarded $14 million in actual damages and his wife received $1.5 million” (Associated Press). They are also facing two other lawsuits in dealing with PFOA; totaling over $100 million in damages.

Has Dupont been reckless in its efforts to increase revenues? Or are these just accusations of a disgruntled former employee? If the FDA decides that the use of Teflon is harmful to the health of people and they ban its use, what will be the economic effects? If it is banned, who will bare the brunt of the costs associated with the abandonment of Teflon: consumers or producers? Do you think that there would be a substantial improvement in human health conditions as a result of the banning? Or will companies just find another product to replace Teflon that will bring its own unique damages with it?