Want to dig deeper into the health and safety data around PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), one of the PFAS still being used in some cookware?
Below are scientific and policy references with a short TL;DR summary to guide your reading.
| Info Source | TL;DR Summary and Key Quotes about PTFE PFAS |
|---|---|
| International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the World Health Organization) (1979) | Decades ago, PTFE was shown to cause tumors in mice studies and “polymer fume fever” (also sometimes referred to as Teflon Flu) in humans. In mice injected with PTFE, “tumours developed around the implant in 8/89 (10%) and 1/61 (2%), 23/103 (22.7%), 10/53 (21.2%) and 7/54 (15.2%) and 4/50 (8%) mice in the above groups, respectively. No similar tumours were seen in 200 female and 100 male untreated [no PTFE implanted] mice” “Thermodegradation [breakdown under high heat conditions] products of PTFE produce influenza-like symptoms ( ‘polymer-fume fever’) in humans. These may include chills, headaches, rigour-like shaking of the limbs, mild respiratory discomfort and a high fever.” |
| European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (2016) | Regardless of the size of PTFE polymers (which were originally thought to be too large to directly absorb thru the gut lining), this source noted that reaction and degradation products (like the gases that are released when PTFE cookware is overheated during typical use) need to be assessed for toxicity using the same standards as the intentionally added materials. “Substances used in the manufacture of plastics may contain impurities originating from their manufacture and may form reaction and degradation products during production or treatment of the FCM [Food Contact Materials]. Safety evaluation of impurities and reaction and degradation products … considers reaction and degradation products and impurities in the risk assessment of substances for plastic FCM … the same approach as that used for authorised substances is applied, as the same degree of safety should be warranted for all migrating substances… Whether their presence is intentional or not, it is necessary to evaluate the safety of all migrating substances and not just of the starting substances – for example the monomers or additives alone – and the guidelines should be updated to account more fully for this more comprehensive approach.” |
| Barbara J Henry et al (authored by chemical industry staff and consultants) (2018) | This paper, which is written by chemical industry personnel, not independent researchers, states that “Fluoropolymers [PFAS plastics, specifically PTFE] are not bioavailable or bioaccumulative, as evidenced by toxicology studies on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)” and says that “fluoropolymers satisfy widely accepted assessment criteria to be considered as “polymers of low concern” (PLC).” These statements have now been proven incorrect – the 1979 monograph cited above notes PTFE caused tumors in mice and rats in multiple studies and that overheated PTFE fumes are harmful to humans. Studies on PTFE and its degradation products (produced under typical household use of PTFE-coated cookware) have shown multiple serious health risks and harms, and more recent research has shown that PTFE micro- and nano-plastics significantly migrating into and accumulating in human tissues and the environment. |
| BfR German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (2025) | This German federal institute notes that “PTFE non-stick coating on cookware, ovenware, and frying pans only poses a health risk when it is strongly heated while unfilled, as the coating can overheat and, if the temperature rises to 360°C, develop gases hazardous to health.” PTFE cookware when “used improperly” releases “substances which are hazardous to health …into the ambient air without visible smoke formation.” The authors repeatedly note that PTFE cookware is safe only “when properly used” – however, improper use conditions are highly likely to occur under the normal household uses as they describe (“heating when unfilled,” “used on induction and gas stoves which allow for rapid heating,” heating any of the areas of a pan not filled with food, and “over burning flames, e.g. from gas or charcoal grills” – to avoid the known dangers of this material, consumers should not use PTFE nonstick items on gas, induction, or outdoor grills and should not use them unless they are completely filled to the brim with food or liquid. Improper use likely represents the vast majority of actual consumer use of these products. This source also notes that the European Union is likely to ban these materials soon. “On 7 February 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published its proposal for a ban on the manufacture, use, and distribution (including import) of the broad group of PFAS. This is meant to prevent further entry of these substances into the environment and could result in a ban of PTFE used for coatings on cookware, ovenware, and frying pans for use in private households as well as restaurants.” |
| U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2025) | For “non-stick applications on pots & pans”, FDA has only assessed the migration of PTFE and other PFAS to food from cooksurfaces under ideal or perfect use conditions, and their current assessment ignores the evidence noted above regarding typical consumer use conditions (which per the above include heating on induction stoves, gas ranges, and charcoal grills where high temperatures can be achieved rapidly or heating before the pan has been filled or with food on only some of the pan). These “improper use” scenarios can result in the cookware rapidly heating to levels that can release PTFE fumes, which have been documented to have serious health impacts, but FDA has not updated their authorizations to reflect typical usage or recent scientific evidence showing significant release of and bioaccumulation of PTFE microplastics. |
| “Polytetrafluoroethylene microplastic properties, pollution, toxicity and analysis: a review” by Mohamed Alaraby et al (independent researchers and academics) (2025) | This late-2025 literature review by independent academics and researchers summarizes the state of the science, including the newest research results, on PTFE in cookware and food contact materials. It highlights that these PFAS plastic “fluoropolymers” generate high volumes of PTFE-microplastics which migrate into food, human tissues, and the environment and begin breaking down at lower temperatures than originally thought. “Cooking with polytetrafluoroethylene-coated pans releases thousands to millions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles per use, directly contaminating food and the environment” “Historically considered inert and non-leaching, recent studies have shown that PTFE can degrade under heat, abrasion, and chemical exposure, releasing micro- and nanoplastics. Notably, everyday cooking with PTFE-coated utensils can produce millions of these particles, especially as cookware ages. PTFE microplastics have been detected in human placenta, lungs, and urine, suggesting widespread exposure.“ “Polytetrafluoroethylene microplastics have been detected in various human tissues, fluids, and excreta, alongside other microplastics derived from diverse plastic polymers. Remarkably, PTFE microplastics have been reported to account for up to 60% of total detected microplastics in certain cases, reflecting their extensive environmental prevalence“ “Although PTFE has an impressive melting point of ~ 327 °C and excellent thermal resilience, it may begin to degrade at slightly lower temperatures, raising concerns about microplastic generation under typical usage conditions.” |
Want to learn more?
- Return to the homepage
- Search the Cookware Brand Chemicals Disclosure Directory
- Detox your kitchen! A few simple steps can reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals starting today
- Learn how state laws are improving cookware safety nationwide
- Find out why scientists and policymakers define PFAS as a class of toxic chemicals
- Check the facts: Are PFAS safe for food-contact materials like cookware?
- Take Action: Demand that big retailers and cookware brands stop selling PFAS cookware nationwide!
If you found this information useful and would like to support Defend Our Health’s work, please consider becoming a monthly sustainer! Together, we can expose avoidable toxic chemicals in consumer goods and advocate for safer solutions that protect families and communities.
