Ditch Nonstick Now!

By Nora Simmons

Easy-clean pots and pans and stain-resistant fabrics make everyday chores a lot easier, but what if we told you that the chemicals they contain can affect your baby’s health? Researchers have linked the perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) used in nonstick and stain-resistant coatings to cancer, hormonal disruption, and developmental defects. And a recent University of Massachusetts study found PFCs in the breast milk of every woman tested. The average concentrations were below the maximum set by the British Food Standards Agency Committee (the US hasn’t set any regulations for exposure to PFCs), but researchers note that infants may also be at risk from PFCs from sources other than breast milk. Protect yourself and your baby by opting out of stain-resistant coatings when you buy furniture, go for organic cotton linens and clothing whenever possible, and (if you haven’t already) get rid of your conventional nonstick cookware. Choose stainless steel, learn to love cast-iron, or check out the new safer nonstick technology. Green Pan, a Belgian company, uses a nonstick coating—Thermolon—that can withstand 800 degrees without posing a danger (at temperatures above 680 degrees, most other nonstick pans release toxic gases and particles). GreenPan is also PFOA-free (the main chemical used to produce nonstick coatings), which reduces manufacturing pollution by up to 50 percent. Pick one up at Target or Crate and Barrel or learn more at green-pan.com

—NS