Will Non-Stick Pots and Pans Raise Risk of Thyroid Disorder?

Epidemiologists have linked high exposure to a chemical used in non-stick cooking utensils to a greater risk for thyroid disease. The chemical is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and it is also used in treatments to make fabric waterproof or carpets stain-resistant. The researchers examined results from nearly 4,000 adults whose blood was tested between 1999 and 2006. Those with the highest levels of PFOA in their blood had twice the likelihood of thyroid disease compared to those with the lowest levels, although the correlation does not establish a cause-and-effect link.

[Environmental Health Perspectives, Jan. 20, 2010]