Perfluorochemicals or PFCs—the family of fluorine-containing
chemicals used to make nonstick cookware and stain-resistant
clothing (think Teflon, Gore-Tex, Stainmaster and
Scotchgard)—have been a cause for concern for years now. PFCs
don’t degrade in the environment, build up in human bodies and
have been linked to health problems such as suppressed immune
systems, abnormal hormone function and developmental problems in
children. Now researchers have linked PFC exposure to early
menopause, which is a cause for concern as low levels of
estrogen can put women at risk for heart disease and
osteoporosis. All nonstick cookware is coated in a covering
containing perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA), which, when overheated,
can release toxic gases. Replace all nonstick cookware with
stainless steel or cast iron to avoid PFOAs and other PFCs. For
the study, published in the Journal of Endocrinology and
Metabolism, researchers tested and surveyed 26,000 women in West
Virginia who lived near—and drank water contaminated with P