Dec 24, 2022 20:00:00

Research results that ``2.3 million plastic particles'' are released into cooking when a Teflon-coated frying pan is scratched

Frying pans coated with

polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) , a fluororesin known under the trade name of 'Teflon,' have become a strong ally of cooks because the surface friction is low and the material does not burn easily. However, it has been found that if the coating breaks during use of such fluoropolymer-coated pans and pans, a large number of microscopic plastic particles are released into the food.

Raman imaging for the identification of Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics released from non-stick cookware - ScienceDirect
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158293

Not-so-tough Teflon – News
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2022/10/31/not-so-tough-teflon/

One Small Crack on a Teflon Pan Can Release Thousands of Plastic Particles : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/one-small-crack-on-a-teflon-pan-can-release-thousands-of-plastic-particles

Should you immediately throw away a pan when you scratch its coating?
https://www.universal-sci.com/article/should-you-throw-away-a-pan-with-a-scratched-coating

PTFE used in Teflon-coated cookware belongs to a group of substances called ' perfluoroalkyl compounds and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) ', which are called 'eternal chemicals' because they remain in the environment for an extremely long time. Because it belongs to , health problems may be a concern.

Therefore, a research team led by Youhong Tang and others at Flinders University, Australia conducted an experiment to examine the effects of frying in a Teflon-coated pan in an environment similar to cooking and to see what effect it would have if the spatula damaged the coating. I did.

In the experiment, to simulate cooking, a stainless steel, plastic, or wooden spatula was applied to Teflon-coated cookware and rubbed in a motion similar to cooking. They then used

Raman imaging to count the number of microplastic and nanoplastic particles on the coating surface, and used a special algorithm to determine how many particles were released during cooking.

As a result, it was found that 9,100 microscopic plastic particles were mixed into the food in 30 seconds with just a small scratch on the coating surface, and 2.3 million particles were released when the coating was broken. .

Tang said of the results of the experiment, ``The result is a strong warning that it is essential to pay close attention to the selection and use of cooking utensils to avoid food contamination. Teflon is a member of PFAS. Therefore, further research is required to assess the risks of microplastics and nanoplastics.'

The effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the human body are still unknown, but microplastics are found in various parts of the human body, such as theblood , lungs , and placenta , which connects the mother and fetus. Since it remains for a long time without deteriorating or decomposing, it poses a health hazard.

Therefore, the scientific news site Universal-Sci, which covered this research paper, calls for attention to the following points to prevent ``eternal chemicals'' from contaminating meals even when using Teflon-coated cookware. I was.
・Follow the instructions on the cooking utensils.
• Do not overheat cookware to prevent coating damage.
・Do not stir strongly or poke with a sharp object.
・If the surface is scratched or the coating is damaged, discard immediately.