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.
One indicator of immune system response is the immunoglobulin IgE level. This antibody becomes involved when an allergen enters the body, triggering a reaction. The result is rapid and associated with histamine release. IgE responses involve the skin, lungs and digestive system; common triggers include inhaled allergens (e.g. pollen, dust mites, molds, pet dander) and foods such as peanuts. These responses may be heightened in the presence of PFOA, which is everywhere – both in the home and the environment.
Currently, the US Environmental Protection Agency does not consider PFOA to affect consumers directly through the use of products such as all-weather clothing and nonstick coatings. Concerns were raised in the past few years because, as with other synthetic chemicals, PFOA is not easily biodegraded. Low levels are found in the environment and the general population. These concerns led to a working group that has committed to a voluntary reduction of PFOA emissions and use by 2010 and a total elimination by 2015.
Manufacturers continue to argue that the benefits of PFOA and other fluoropolymers are unmatched, and that evidence of harmful effects is patchy at best. The complicated connection between this chemical and allergies will provide more grist for the mill.
