On one hand, these pots, pans, and air fryers have become indispensable in our kitchens, offering convenience that makes cooking and cleaning a breeze.

The idea of perfectly cooked eggs gliding seamlessly onto my plate, all thanks to that slick coating, is undeniably appealing.

But then there’s that nagging voice whispering about potential health risks and the dreaded “Teflon flu.”

We’ve all heard the rumors: nonstick coatings degrade over time, releasing harmful chemicals into our food.

Is there any truth to these claims?

Like many of you, I’ve found myself caught in this culinary conundrum, weighing the convenience of nonstick against the potential health concerns.

In this essay, I’ll discuss the latest scientific research on nonstick coatings, their benefits, and their drawbacks.

I’ll also share practical tips for safely using nonstick cookware and offer compelling alternatives for those looking to avoid it altogether.

Nonstick Coatings

I recently read about how nonstick coatings can increase my plastic consumption.

While this raises concerns, I do not know how it will affect my health.

Researchers used a special imaging approach (Raman spectroscopy) to see what occurs in nonstick coatings during cooking.

They used wooden and metal utensils with old or new nonstick cookware. Here are the findings:

All approaches resulted in tiny abrasions to the nonstick coating, releasing micro- and nanoplastics.

Microplastics, Nanoplastics, and Health

The problem? Some studies hint that swallowing these plastic particles may damage our breathing tracts, causing problems such as bronchitis, asthma, and scarring (fibrosis).

Scientists described an incident in northern Italy where small plastic particles contaminated the water between 1980 and 2019.

This pollution affected about 150,000 individuals.

There was higher mortality from cardiovascular disease and certain cancers (including kidney and testicular malignancies) in the population affected by plastic particles.

Micro- and nanoplastics affect health.

What About Your Nonstick Teflon Pans?

My clinical literature review leads me to believe that most nonstick pans are safe.

Here are some tactics I employ:

• Avoid using metal utensils, turning to silicone or wooden ones.
• Avoid using nonstick cookware at temperatures above 250°C (482°F) or longer than 45 minutes.
• Replace pans if the coating starts to flake or is scratched.
• Don’t clean with abrasive tools, such as steel wool, as they can damage the utensil surface coating.

Alternatives to Nonstick Pans

I find nonstick cookware to be quite convenient, but I know there are alternatives, including the following:

• Cast iron
• Stainless steel
• Ceramic-coated cookware

While I still have some concerns, my clinical literature review suggests that nonstick coatings are relatively safe.

Provided you use the utensils properly, nonstick cookware can be a safe and reliable option for your kitchen.

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According to the World Health Organization, neurological disorders have surpassed all others as the top cause of death and disability on a global scale. Since 1990, the total number of DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) brought on by neurological diseases has increased by 18%. These DALYs include sickness, premature death, and disability.

A new study was published in Nature Neuroscience that examined more than 1,800 common household chemicals. The researchers believed there was a lack of research on the links between these chemicals and brain health. Among these chemicals, they found two that could be harmful: quaternary ammonium compounds, or “quats” or QACs, and organophosphate flame retardants.

Products containing quats include laundry detergent, fabric softeners, hair wash, sunscreen, baby wipes, shaving cream, and disinfectants from brands such as Downy, Clorox, and Lysol.

Organophosphate flame retardants inhibit the maturation of oligodendrocytes, brain cells responsible for producing the protective layer surrounding nerve cells; quats, on the other hand, kill these cells. The cells they kill are the ones responsible for the formation of the all-important Schwann cells that wrap around axons to produce nerve conduction and all muscular and cognitive abilities. Of particular note is that this destruction of Schwann cells leads to multiple sclerosis (MS).

When exposed to chemicals while they are still developing, they can have devastating effects on a child’s central nervous system, which is already quite vulnerable to environmental shocks. On a global scale, cognitive impairments like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others affect millions of children.

The American Cleaning Institute has indicated that these products are necessary to contain germs, mold, and viruses that are dangerous to health. As noted on their website, where members and their purpose are listed:

“The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors.” They are, therefore, a trade group meant to protect the interests of its members.

Paul Tesar, a director at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a study author, stated that the researchers believe they have discovered a “previously unrecognized risk factor for neurological disease” due to the correlation between autism, neurological disorders, and disrupted oligodendrocyte distribution.

According to its authors, the research is preliminary and needs to be considered an initial scientific journey into the potential risks and benefits of these products. However, anyone wishing to protect themselves and their children from harm needs to consider even this initial research informative, and use these products prudently and should give serious consideration to any children in the area.

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But the impact of smoking is all around us, even if we don’t see it. Statistics rarely tell a provocative story to compel people to action. The numbers behind the global smoking epidemic are so stark, however, they are almost incomprehensible. Behind every data point, a real person, family or community is impacted.

Let’s start with the challenge: More than 1.3 billion people – 17 percent of the global population – smoke cigarettes or consumes other tobacco products. Since the first World No Tobacco Day in 1987, nearly 300 million people have died from smoking-related illnesses, including tens of millions who died or suffered respiratory or cognitive impairment from second-hand smoke. If the average day is any gauge, thousands of children took up smoking yesterday, including the fastest rising of all groups: teenage girls. Beyond the impact of lives lost or harmed, smoking costs the global economy roughly $2 trillion in economic damage every year.

With that money, with those lives lost, what could be done to improve the world? A lot, as it turns out. That sum would fund the attainment of many of humanity’s most ambitious sustainability and poverty alleviation goals. We could facilitate an equitable transfer to cleaner energy technologies for industrialized and emerging markets. And to be blunt, we would have an honest shot at dramatically reducing cancer rates and chronic disease when a massive chunk of the world’s people isn’t inhaling products that contain more than 7,000 different chemicals with each puff.

Perhaps eliminating smoking is a pipe dream. Governments have imposed stiff taxes against tobacco products; research is being used to counter cigarette advertising; social stigma has built in many countries and health systems have made smoking habits increasingly punitive. But that hasn’t slowed the epidemic. We need better tools.

Around 60 percent of smokers globally – 780 million people – say they want to quit, but only 30 percent have access to resources to help them achieve that goal. That represents a massive market opportunity for the right solutions. Education and support networks are essential. However, smokers need access to more powerful cessation products to deliver a knockout punch. Fortunately, there is some good news on that front.

While smoking cessation products have been available for nearly two decades, they can have serious side effects and rebound rates. Last week, results for a confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial – ORCA-3 – showed statistically significant results over six and 12 weeks. The study features a new cessation treatment called cytisinicline, a plant-derived alkaloid.

Most of the trial’s participants have been smoking for more than 30 years and have tried to quit on average four times. In the study, cytisinicline demonstrated a six-fold increase in the odds of maintaining continuous smoking cessation at six months compared to the placebo.

The new cessation treatment also produces far fewer side effects than routinely reported by people using other smoking cessation products. This is particularly important since compliance with treatment is a significant barrier that keeps millions of people from following through with their goal of quitting.

Cytisinicline opens a new front in the war to end smoking. The task is to ensure it and other tools reach the people who need it most. Advocacy groups and government agencies can help with this important next step by breaking down the barriers to access that frequently inhibit people from acting on the dream of kicking their smoking habit. It’s time to lend them a hand.

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Approximately 45 million individuals in the United States wear contact lenses. Two out of three people using contact lenses are female. In the USA, contact lenses are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

What Are “Forever Chemicals?”

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of artificial chemicals used in various products for decades. They are known for their water- and stain-resistance and are in products like nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, carpets, firefighting foam, and food packaging.

PFAS are very persistent in the environment, meaning they do not break down easily and can accumulate in the body over time. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to several health problems, including cancer, thyroid disease, reproductive problems, and immune system suppression.

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the health risks of PFAS. In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a health advisory for PFOA and PFOS, two of the most common PFAS chemicals. The advisory set a limit of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.

Regulating PFAS

Since then, many states have taken steps to regulate PFAS. In 2020, New York became the first state to ban PFAS in food packaging. Other states, such as California and Minnesota, have set limits on the levels of PFAS in consumer products.

The EPA is currently developing a national strategy for addressing PFAS contamination. The agency is expected to release a draft plan in 2023.

If you are concerned about your exposure to PFAS, you can take steps to reduce your risk. These steps include:

• Avoiding products that contain PFAS, such as nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics.
• Drinking filtered water, especially if you live near a Superfund site or other area where PFAS contamination is known to exist.
• Eat organic foods, as PFAS are often used in conventional farming practices.
• Getting your blood tested for PFAS levels.

PFAS are “forever chemicals” because they don‘t naturally break down.

Contact Lenses and Cancer: New Research

American researchers tested 18 pairs of soft contact lenses to see if they contained PFAS. More than half were daily lenses. The tests looked for traces of organic fluorine in lenses by brands Acuvue, Alcon, and Coopervision. Let’s look at the disturbing results:

Researchers detected fluorine levels (in contact lenses) between 105 parts per million (ppm) to 20,700 ppm. All tested contact lenses exceeded 100 ppm, equivalent to 100,000,000 ppt, or 50,000 times higher than the maximum level deemed safe in drinking water by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Here are the lenses with the highest amounts of organic fluorine: Alcon Air Optix (No Hydraglide) for Astigmatism (20,000ppm), Alcon Air Optix Colors with Smartshield Technology (20,700ppm), and Alcon Total30 Contact Lenses for Daily Wear (20,400ppm).

Key Points — Contact Lenses and Cancer: Is There a Connection?

Question. Do contact lenses contain dangerous substances?

Findings. Fluoropolymers are described as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” and some contact lenses are found to have extremely high levels of organic flueronic, a marker of PFAS, in each.

Meaning. Fluoropolymers are PFAS or “forever chemicals.” Some contact lenses have extremely high levels of organic flueronic, a marker of PFAS. Still, we cannot leap to say that the high levels of the substance influence the health of contact lens wearers. The study authors present no evidence of harm. I look forward to epidemiologic studies.

I want to remind the reader that not having good contact lens hygiene increases the risk of serious eye infections. Serious eye infections that can lead to blindness affect up to one out of every 500 contact lens users annually.

This number should get your attention: Upwards of 40 to 90 percent of contact lens wearers do not follow the care instructions for their contact lenses. Moreover, 99 percent of users report one or more contact lens hygiene behavior previously associated with an increased risk of eye infection or inflammation.

The forever chemical data raises concerns, but proper contact lens hygiene is immediately actionable. To my knowledge, there is no high-level evidence linking contact lens use to cancer.

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Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common chemical in paint removers, gun cleaners, correction fluid, aerosol cleaning products, and dry cleaning.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. A loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain causes the condition, which leads to a lack of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for coordinating movement.

Common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include the following:

• Tremors in the arms, hands, legs, or head
• Stiff muscles with contractions for a long time
• Slow movements
• Balance and coordination challenges, sometimes resulting in falls
• Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls

Other symptoms may include:

• Emotional changes such as depression
• Swallowing, speaking, or chewing challenges
• Constipation or urinary problems
• Skin problems

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease often develop a so-called Parkinsonian gait. Here, the patient tends to lean forward, taking small and quick steps. There may be reduced arm swinging, too. Many need help initiating (or continuing) movement.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but tools are available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Such interventions may include medications (for example, dopamine agonists or levodopa, and non-medication interventions, including physical therapy, exercise, and speech therapy.

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

The basal ganglia is a brain region that regulates movement. The most prominent Parkinson’s disease symptoms occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, become impaired or die.

These nerve cells (neurons) normally produce an important brain chemical — dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes movement problems associated with the disease.

Second, patients with Parkinson’s disease also lose nerve endings that make norepinephrine. This neurotransmitter is a primary chemical messenger of the sympathetic system, controlling functions such as blood pressure and heart rate.

This neurotransmitter loss may contribute to some of the non-movement Parkinson’s features, including irregular blood pressure, fatigue, diminished food movement through the gut, and a sudden blood pressure drop upon sitting or lying.

Third, those with Parkinson’s disease have many brain cells with Lewy bodies and unusual clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Researchers are working to understand better the relationship between alpha-synuclein and genetic variants impacting Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.

Researchers believe Parkinson’s disease is the product of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. There are several risk-increasing genes, with mutations causing the brain’s hallmark loss of dopamine-producing cells. The Mayo Clinic reminds us that such mutations are uncommon (except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson’s disease).

Environmental factors such as exposure to toxins (including pesticides) and head injuries are associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Aging is another risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. The disease is more common in people over the age of 60. Finally, men are more likely than women to develop the condition.

Parkinson’s disease is probably secondary to a complex interplay between genetics, aging, and environmental exposures.

A common chemical and Parkinson’s disease risk

The number of individuals with Parkinson’s disease has doubled over the last three decades. It may double again (from 6.9 million in 2015 to 14.2 million) by 2040.

The causes of Parksin’s disease are entirely clear. As discussed above, certain genetic mutations can increase risk, as can head trauma. However, these risk factors don’t explain the vast majority of cases. There are some less visible factors.

Could a common chemical used in paint removers, gun cleaners, dry cleaning, aerosol cleaning products, decaffeinating coffee, and correction fluid be a key to understanding the recent dramatic increase in Parkinson’s disease?

An international group of researchers recently reported the disturbing results of its review of previous research:

Trichloroethylene is associated with as much as a 500 percent increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.

What is TCE?

It is invisible, a highly volatile liquid, and seemingly everywhere. It is invisible, a highly volatile liquid, and seemingly everywhere. First synthesized in a lab in 1864, the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) was first used for commercial production in 1920. TCE has commercial, industrial, military, and medical applications.

Among its uses are:

• Producing refrigerants
• Cleaning electronics
• Degreasing engine parts
• Anesthetic and analgesic (limited use)
• Gun cleaners
• Correction fluid
• Dry cleaning. A similar chemical (perchloroethylene) is currently more widely used. The current researchers pointedly observe that, in anaerobic conditions, perchloroethylene often transforms into TCE.”

The researchers remind us that we don’t have to have occupational exposure to come into contact with TCE. Exposure can occur through the air (indoor or outdoor) or groundwater. The substance evaporates from the underlying solid and groundwater and often enters our workplaces, homes, and schools undetected.

Animal studies indicate the potential peril, with TCE exposure causing selective loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells. Studies dating back to 1960 show a TCE: Parkinson’s disease association.

Unfortunately, the chemical was ubiquitous in the 1970s; 10 million Americans worked with chemical or organic solvents daily. If you want to see an exhaustive list of the occupations and industries in which TCE exposure still occurs, please go here:

Trichloroethylene: An Invisible Cause of Parkinson’s Disease?

The etiologies of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain unclear. Some, such as certain genetic mutations and head trauma, are…

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TCE problem scope

I decided to write this piece after seeing this figure from the research paper:

“TCE contaminates up to one-third of US drinking water, and has polluted groundwater in over 20 countries on five continents. The substance is found in half of the 1300 most toxic “Superfund” sites that are in a federal cleanup program, including 15 in California’s Silicon Valley; there TCE was used to clean electronics.”

While the United States military no longer uses TCE, several contaminated sites exist, including Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Researchers discovered TCE and PCE in drinking water at 280 times the recommended safety standards at Camp Lejeune.

The current review highlights seven cases of people who developed Parkinson’s disease after likely exposure to TCE. For example, National Basketball Association player Brian Grant developed symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in 2006 at age 34.

Grant lived at Camp Lejeune as a child. He bathed in, drank, and swam in contaminated water. His father died of esophagus carcinoma, cancer that is associated with TCE. Grant created a foundation to support and inspire folks with Parkinson’s disease.

In 2014, the International Agency for Research on Cancer updated its classification of TCE to Group 1. This assignment means that there is sufficient evidence that the substance causes kidney cancer (and that there is some evidence that it leads to liver cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

My take — TCE and Parkinson’s disease

This study was eye-opening, even as these authors acknowledge that TCE’s role in Parkinson’s disease is “far from definitive.” For example, TCE exposure is often combined with toxin exposure or unmeasured genetic risk factors. No causal relationship is proven; most of us exposed to TCE never get Parkinson’s disease.

Secondly, there can be recall bias: Those with Parkinson’s disease may be more likely to recall their exposure to the toxin.

Of course, we need more research and cleanup of contaminated sites. I hope to have contributed to spreading the word about the potential harms of TCE exposure. Still, given the known connection with some cancer types, I hope to stay clear of trichloroethylene.

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