What is Teflon flu? The illness caused by non-stick pans

( NewsNation ) — Toxic fumes from non-stick pans have resulted in a record number of Americans falling ill from “Teflon flu.”

The illness, known as polymer fume fever, had 267 suspected cases reported since 2000, per America’s Poison Centers.

Symptoms can include a fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea or a cough. The nickname of polymer fume fever is derived from non-stick pans, including Teflon, made with polytetrafluoroethylene.

It is known as a “forever chemical” , referring to its capacity to remain in an environment for a lengthy time.

Multiple studies have found that if non-stick pans stay under 500 degrees Fahrenheit, they are unlikely to see the coating degrade or release damaging fumes.

“It’ll burn and release a very complex mix of oxidized, fluorinated substances,” Zac Hudson , an associate professor of chemistry at the University of British Columbia, told the Washington Post of high-temperature non-stick pan cooking.

“This is why they tell you: Don’t heat your Teflon pan to a high temperature.”

Chemours, the company which owns Teflon, gave a statement to the Post, in an attempt to allay concerns.

“Multiple studies demonstrate that it does not bioaccumulate and, if incidental exposure were to occur, it’s rapidly eliminated from the body,” it read.

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