[Raptor235]

Are your cooking utensils making you sick? One recent toxicology study examined the effects of skin exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The results suggest that PFOA is immunotoxic and may play a role in allergic reactions.

The problem is that PFOA is all around us - in Teflon coatings and as a carpet and fabric protectant among other products. Your stain-resistant upholstery and clothing rely on PFOA. Surprisingly, your pizza may be delivered in a box produced using PFOA. It is a member of the infamous chemical family known as perfluorochemicals (PFCs), which have been implicated in widespread environmental and health effects.

Apart from the obvious issues, it seems that PFOA may have a more complex role to play in human health. The new study, published in Toxicological Sciences, used mice to look at immune responses. Subjects were exposed to a range of doses over four days Then an asthma challenge was introduced in the form of ovalbumin, an egg protein. Allergic responses increased after skin contact with PFOA. The implication is that PFOA exposure increases the body’s immune response to allergens. It may actually cause the immune system to overreact to common allergens.You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/science-tec...stick-sniffles