Historical Retrospective: From Leaded Gasoline to Teflon (II)

By Give, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2022-08-28

From “Miracle” Material to Stealth Threat for Environment and Health

In the annals of 20th-century scientific inventions, Teflon undoubtedly occupies a prominent place. This polymer material, accidentally discovered in 1938 by DuPont chemist Roy Plunkett, quickly became an industrial and domestic darling due to its exceptional heat resistance, chemical inertness, and remarkably low friction coefficient. Yet as time passed, the shadow behind Teflon’s brilliance emerged, with its potential harm to human health and the environment sparking global concern and debate.

Initially hailed as the dawn of a chemical revolution, Teflon—scientifically known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)—exhibits near-total resistance to chemical reactions and maintains stability under extreme temperatures. In 1954, Colette Grégoire, wife of French engineer Marc Grégoire, proposed using Teflon for cookware. This inspired the founding of Tefal and the world’s first non-stick frying pan. By the 1960s, Teflon-coated cookware had taken households by storm, becoming a kitchen staple worldwide. Simultaneously, its applications expanded dramatically across aerospace, electronics, and medical industries.
However, the production of Teflon involved the use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a persistent organic pollutant with significant bioaccumulative potential and toxicity. Research indicates that PFOA is virtually non-degradable in the environment and can accumulate through the food chain, ultimately posing serious threats to human health. As early as 1961, an internal DuPont study revealed liver damage in laboratory rats exposed to PFOA, yet these findings were never publicly disclosed.

During the 1970s-1980s, DuPont discovered widespread presence of PFOA in employees’ bloodstreams, correlating with health issues such as elevated cholesterol levels and increased liver enzymes. Despite these findings, the company failed to implement effective measures to reduce worker exposure or disclose the risks to the public.

The turning point came in 1998 when West Virginia farmer Wilbur Tennant accused DuPont of contaminating his property, leading to livestock deaths. Tennant uncovered that DuPont had been dumping waste from its Teflon production into nearby landfills, polluting local water sources. This incident triggered an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Attorney Robert Bilott, representing Tennant and affected residents, discovered during litigation that DuPont had known about PFOA’s hazards for decades while systematically concealing the evidence.

In 2004, DuPont reached a settlement with the EPA, agreeing to pay a record $16.5 million fine – one of the largest ever imposed for chemical pollution – while pledging to phase out PFOA use. Subsequent research confirmed severe health impacts: A 2005 epidemiological study by West Virginia University and DuPont found significantly higher rates of kidney and testicular cancers among communities with long-term PFOA exposure. The study showed a 20-30% increased kidney cancer risk for residents with elevated PFOA blood levels. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) subsequently classified PFOA as a Group 2B carcinogen (“possibly carcinogenic to humans”).

The EPA initiated PFOA risk assessments in 2006, listing it as a “likely carcinogen.” That same year, DuPont committed to eliminating PFOA by 2015. However, environmental and human contamination persists, while replacement compounds like GenX exhibit similarly concerning persistence and toxicity – demonstrating a troubling pattern of regrettable substitutions in industrial chemistry.

The health hazards posed by Teflon extend far beyond PFOA. When Teflon-coated products like non-stick cookware are used at high temperatures, the coating may decompose and release toxic gases such as hydrogen fluoride and perfluoroisobutylene. These gases not only harm the respiratory system but can also cause “polymer fume fever,” a flu-like condition. While manufacturers claim Teflon is safe under normal use, consumer concerns about its safety have never been fully alleviated.

Environmentally, Teflon’s production and disposal have created severe ecological problems. The PFAS compounds used in Teflon manufacturing are extremely persistent and resist natural degradation. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study detected high concentrations of PFAS in surface and groundwater across multiple American states, particularly near Teflon production facilities. For instance, in Parkersburg, West Virginia – where DuPont operated Teflon plants – PFOA levels in local drinking water sources far exceeded safety standards, exposing tens of thousands of residents to chronic contamination.

The widespread distribution of PFOA and other perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water, soil and atmosphere has profoundly impacted global ecosystems through bioaccumulation. These chemicals have not only contaminated drinking water sources but also threatened wildlife survival. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology found high PFAS concentrations in Arctic marine mammals (like seals and polar bears), demonstrating these pollutants have reached Earth’s most remote ecosystems via atmospheric and oceanic currents. Furthermore, PFAS have been commonly detected in fish and other aquatic organisms, significantly increasing human exposure risks through the food chain.

PFAS compounds contaminate not only water sources but also accumulate in soil, affecting crop growth. An Australian study found significantly elevated PFAS levels in crops irrigated with contaminated water, demonstrating that humans may be exposed to these chemicals through the food chain even without direct contact with Teflon products.

Growing environmental awareness and stricter regulations are gradually restricting the use of Teflon and related compounds worldwide:

In 2016, the U.S. EPA lowered the health advisory limit for PFOA and PFOS (another PFAS compound) in drinking water from 400 ppt to 70 ppt.

In 2020, the EU listed PFOA under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), banning its production and sale.

China has also tightened PFAS regulations, restricting their use in certain industries.

However, fully resolving this issue requires global cooperation—from developing safer alternatives to strengthening environmental monitoring and pollution control—a long and challenging road ahead.

If new inventions and products are deployed widely without thorough safety assessments or independent oversight, all of humanity—and Earth’s ecosystems—become unwitting test subjects in a massive experiment. According to Oxford University’s Our World in Data, as of August 11, 2022, 12.44 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered globally, with a 67.4% vaccination rate. Are those vaccinated individuals also part of an uncontrolled trial? Only time will tell—just as it did with leaded gasoline and Teflon.

(The End)

Edited by Jas, DeepL, DeepSeek and Youdao

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