- Dr. Posting on TikTok, Poonam Desai explained why she throws away chipped pans
- Scratched nonstick pans could ‘leach millions of microplastics into our food’
- READ MORE: PFAS water contamination in schools forces fountains to be avoided
A doctor on TikTok has warned against using scratched pans because of the microplastics they can release.
Dr. Poonam Desai, who practices in New York and goes by the name doctoranddancer on social media, posted a video last month about why she throws away her chipped nonstick or ceramic pans.
The video, which has been viewed almost half a million times, shows Dr Desai explaining to her 22,500 followers that non-stick pans can ‘leach millions of microplastics into our food’.
‘Microplastics are endocrine disruptors. They can cause hormonal imbalances, fertility problems and even increase our risk of cancer,” she said.
Dr. Poonam Desai, who practices in New York and goes by the name doctoranddancer on social media, posted a video last month about why she throws away her chipped nonstick or ceramic pans
Researchers have found that a single scratch on a nonstick pan can result in millions of dangerous microparticles being released into a person’s food, exposing them to long-term damage
The endocrine system regulates how many different hormones are released into our body.
Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including larger pieces of plastic that have fallen apart, such as the coating of pans.
Some microplastics contain per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals.
These are adhesive and heat-resistant particles used in the US to make millions of kitchen utensils.
In recent years, they have been linked to several health problems, including several types of cancer, autism and infertility.
A previous Australian study found that a single scratch on the surface of a pan can release millions of microplastics into food and homes.
The researchers used light waves to measure microscopic particles found that just one five centimeter (cm) scratch on Teflon pans – perhaps with a spatula or spoon – released up to 2.3 million microplastics.
In total, more than 9,000 plastic particles were spread in the pan.
Despite the health risks, there are no federal regulations in the US on the amount of PFAS allowed on the surface of manufactured goods.
Dr. Desai said she also avoids using ceramic pans because they “have a layer of aluminum underneath and aluminum can leach into our food.”
Pure ceramic pans are usually considered a safer alternative to nonstick pans because they do not contain PFAS or metals.
Ceramic-coated pans, on the other hand, are usually made of aluminum with a ceramic-based non-stick coating.
If the particles leave the pan, this can happen get into the food cooked in it.
Once someone eats food contaminated with PFAS chemicals, the particles remain in the body for a long time as they disappear very slowly through the urine.
They are considered “forever chemicals” because they take almost a decade to break down in the body and never in the environment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not set an upper limit on the maximum amount of PFAS that can be safely consumed in food.
In lieu of FDA regulations, researchers recommend people take more care about the types of products they choose to use.