Teflon not particularly beneficial to mankind, in respect to cookware at least:
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-teflon-dangerous.htm
Quote:
The nonstick coating used in DuPont’s Teflon® pans has been found to release one or more of 15 different toxic gases when heated to certain temperatures. Which chemicals are released depends on the temperature of the pan. This outgassing is fatal to pet birds and can cause "polymer fume flu," also known as "Teflon® flu," in humans.
Teflon® flu creates flu-like symptoms of chills, headache, fever and nausea. Usually, symptoms subside within a few days, and chances are many people who have experienced it mistook it for the flu. However, there are also more serious risks.
One of the main chemicals used in the manufacturing process of Teflon® and other nonstick pans is perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) also known as C-8. This chemical has led to cancer and birth defects in lab animals, and may have led to birth defects among DuPont plant workers. In 2005, an independent panel reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared PFOA a likely human carcinogen.
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Sorry to twist the knife.
