BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhuanet)-- As Chinese officials plan to study the safety of Teflon cookware and Chinese retailers have taken Teflon cookware off the store shelves, US environment experts are also looking closely into Teflon, which is believed to have emitted hazardous chemicals at a certain high temperature. A latest study shows that Teflon chemicals are found in human blood across the globe.

    The recent study in a peer-reviewed science journal looked into nearly 500 samples in nine countries, and finds that toxic chemicals used to make Teflon cookware are in people's blood in Asia, Europe and the Americas. CRIENGLISH.com reported Friday.

    Environment experts warn that practically speaking, these man-made Teflon chemicals never break down in the environment, and they cause cancer and other problems in lab animals. Now these chemicals, known as C8, are finding their way into human body.

    The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization in the US, studies the influence of environment contamination on human health, food and water, etc. The Vice President for Research at the organization, Jane Houlihan, explains where the chemical C8 is found.

    "C8 is widely used in consumer products. Food wrapping, carpet and fabric treatments, and also C8's been found in drinking water as a pollutant, found in air as a background contaminant, has also been found in food you buy in grocery stores¡­So there's a lot of different sources. But the prime suspect is consumer products, because we're so directly contacting the fabric treatments and food wrapping that use these chemicals."

    US chemical maker DuPont has used C8 for more than 50 years in the production of Teflon at its Washington Works plant in West Virginia. The use of C8 is not subject to any government regulation, but DuPont is now facing a lawsuit claiming that the company for decades knew the chemical was harmful to humans but never told the public. The US Environmental Protection Agency announced early this month that DuPont violated federal law by hiding a birth defect study and water contamination data. In this case, DuPont could face some 300 million dollars of fine.

    Since there is no regulatory action yet, environment expert Jane Houlihan says consumers are the ones to take personal actions to reduce their exposures to the toxic chemicals.

    "We recommend that people phase out their use of Teflon pans from the kitchen. This entire line of chemicals, the Teflon pans, the fabric treatment and the paper coating, are quite toxic¡­Forgoing optional stain treatments is another step that people can take, eating fewer package foods, fewer fast food."

    Studies show that in most of the cases, a non-stick cookware with Teflon coating can release toxic particles and gases in two to five minutes. Now the question is should you stick to the use of non-stick pans?

   (CRIENGLISH.com)