Non-Stick Pan Chemical May Cause Thyroid Disease
Last week, we wrote about a link between a little-known but widely used chemical called PFOA and liver damage. Now, another study finds the same chemical used to make non-stick pans and water-resistant fabrics can cause thyroid disease.
PFOA (also called perfluorooctanoic acid) is used in many consumer and industrial products, most commonly non-stick cooking pans, carpet coatings, and fabric waterproofing. When ingested by people and allowed to reach sufficiently dangerous levels, the chemical may cause a variety of health problems.
British researchers found people with high levels of PFOA in their blood have higher rates of thyroid diseases which affect the body’s metabolism. However, the study drew no direct link between the elevated levels of PFOA and thyroid disease and scientists said more study of PFOA and similar chemicals is needed, according to Reuters news.
“We need to know what they (these chemicals) are doing,” said Tamara Galloway, a professor of ecotoxicology at Exeter University, who led the research.
Study Finds Double Risk of Thyroid Disease
The thyroid is responsible for secreting hormones which affect metabolism. People with low thyroid function may gain weight, feel tired, and lose hair. Those with overactive thyroids may lose weight and feel their hearts race. Both conditions can be treated by taking pills to balance the thyroid’s hormone production.
The British study focused on nearly 4,000 Americans age 20 and older who were tested for PFOA in their blood from 1999 to 2006. The researchers found people with higher PFOA concentrations above 5.7 nanograms per milliliter were more than twice as likely to report current thyroid disease than individuals with the lowest levels (below 4.0ng/ml), Reuters reports.
Related posts:
- Common, Largely Overlooked Chemical Linked to Liver Damage Most consumers have heard that lead in children’s toys and...
- Plastic Chemical BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Says Countless scientific studies have found exposure to the chemical bisphenol...
- Plastic Chemical BPA Linked to Aggressive Behavior in Girls Young girls who as fetuses and newborns were exposed to...
- Pill for Thyroid Disease Pill Linked to Deadly Liver Failure in Children A drug for treatment of an overactive thyroid called Graves’...
- New Energy Drink for Toddlers? No Joke, Rocket Fuel Chemical Found in Powdered Baby Formulas Small amounts of pechlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel,...
