This story, “Panel: Teflon Chemical a Likely Carcinogen,” is another of those interesting scientific findings that will get lots of “air play” and then die down. It is research that will most likely scare many, who will fail to read the full story, and never go read the actual report. What is the likelihood that anyone will actually contract cancer from teflon, or any other ‘non-stick’ surface? I suspect (NOTE: Opinion through observation) that since the incidence of cancer hasn’t increased since the introduction of teflon, and the projected life-spans have increased, we have seen little practical impact.
This reminds me of the studies that came out in the mid-1980s, where a “link” was found between aluminum in the brain, and Alzheimer’s. At the time, the “fear mongers” then started encouraging the disuse of Aluminum Pans (oddly enough, in favor or cast iron, and teflon) and discouraged drinking sodas out of a can. (forget that sodas themselves are evil, evil things.) At the time, I pointed out, to those around me, young pup that I was, that the evidence was only that there existed a link–high levels of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
Note a few things here:
– They had only looked at autopsies of Alzheimer patients, so couldn’t draw a solid comparison
– They (The researchers) found high levels of alumnimum
I surmised that it could be one of two (or many) things. The two most obvious is that a) Aluminum causes/contributes to Alzheimer’s, or b) whatever the cause of Alzheimer’s, it may, as a result, *also* result in the brain retaining significant levels of aluminum. (Of course, there was the next option–that the levels were high, but no higher than in anyone else… )
I believe later studies have shown that there is no causal link. I leave that research to you, dear reader. But if you find anything, be sure to come back here and tell us–certainly a motivated reader makes the best researcher! (In fact, that’s one of the things I like most about the blog at “the Lobby“–Let is quite motivated!)
Keep on thinking!
The Prof
