Sentinel Digital Desk
Non-stick cookware and plastic utensils are popular for their convenience, but overheating them can release harmful chemicals that may raise cancer risk. Teflon-coated cookware (PTFE) can be harmful to health and potentially linked to cancer.
Teflon is usually safe and stable when used at normal cooking temperatures below 260°C (500°F). Overheating non-stick cookware can break down the coating, which releases toxic fumes, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical once used in making Teflon.
Although PFOA has been phased out in many countries since 2015, older cookware may still contain traces of it. The IARC classifies PFOA as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' due to its link to kidney and testicular cancers.
Heating plastic or storing acidic foods in plastic utensils can raise the risk of chemical release. Over time, plastics break down into microplastics, which may cause chronic inflammation linked to cancer.
Plastic utensils like spatulas and spoons can release chemicals when overheated. Materials like polycarbonate or nylon may leach chemicals when heated excessively.