PFAS in Polytetrafluoroethylene Coatings
Non-stick cookware coatings based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) — marketed under brand names including Teflon — are made from PFAS compounds. PTFE itself is considered chemically inert and not hazardous at normal cooking temperatures. However, the manufacturing process historically used PFOA as a processing aid, and degradation of PTFE at temperatures above approximately 260°C (500°F) can release PFAS-containing particles and gases. Older non-stick cookware produced before PFOA phase-outs is of greater concern than newer products.
Scratched and Worn Coatings
Damaged non-stick coatings raise questions about PFAS particle ingestion. Studies have found that mechanically damaged non-stick surfaces release small PTFE particles that could be ingested with food. The health implications of PTFE particle ingestion are not fully established, but caution is warranted — particularly for young children and during pregnancy. Replacing scratched or peeling non-stick cookware is a reasonable precautionary measure.
Emerging PFAS-Free Alternatives
Stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, and ceramic-coated cookware provide non-stick-adjacent cooking surfaces without PFAS-based coatings. Ceramic coatings marketed as non-stick typically use silicon-based compounds and are not PFAS-containing, though their non-stick performance and durability vary by brand. Properly seasoned cast iron provides a natural non-stick surface for many cooking applications.
Putting Cookware Risk in Context
While cookware represents one PFAS exposure pathway, drinking water and food contact materials are generally considered larger contributors to total PFAS body burden for the general population. Cookware-related PFAS exposure is a reasonable consideration in an overall exposure-reduction strategy but should not substitute for attention to more significant exposure pathways. Filtering drinking water for PFAS reduction and avoiding PFAS-treated food packaging typically provides greater exposure reduction benefit than cookware replacement alone.