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Don’t flip out.
Nonstick and ceramic frying pans can be hazardous to your health once scratched — and one social media-savvy doctor has gone viral explaining why.
Dr. Poonam Desai, also known as @doctoranddancer on TikTok, snagged well over half a million hits with a recent 33-second clip titled “Pans I do not use,” reminding viewers of the all-too-common issue impacting most home cooks.
“Nonstick pans that have been scratched or chipped … can leach millions of microplastics into our food,” the New York physician warns in the video.
And hold up, kitchen wizards who think that using a ceramic pan excuses them from the conversation, the doc said.
“Ceramic pans usually have a layer of aluminum under it, and aluminum can leach into our foods,” she warned.
Microplastics are pieces of plastic that measure less than 5 millimeters and nanoplastics measure less than 1 micrometer.
“Microplastics are endocrine disruptors,” Desai claimed. “They can cause hormone imbalances, fertility issues, and even increase our risk of cancer.”
A single scratch on a pan coated with Teflon, a synthetic plastic chemically composed of carbon and fluorine atoms, can release around 9,100 plastic particles, reported an Australian study.
And while researchers aren’t clear on the long-term ill effects of consuming aluminum, Cook’s Illustrated reports that “some health agencies recommend minimizing dietary intake as much as possible.”
Cast iron, stainless steel, glass and enamel-coated cast-iron pans are appropriate alternatives, according to sustainable living site goingzerowaste.com.
Concern over microplastics has grown in recent years, with some known to include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, named for their resistance to breakdown over time.
PFAS are found in typical non-stick cookware and have been blamed for multiple health concerns.
One Italian study even blamed the tiny terrors for a decrease in penis size.
But while worries over microplastics and PFAS have become prevalent, there are no federal regulations in the United States on the amount of forever chemicals allowed on the surface of manufactured goods, the DailyMail reports.
“Human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFAS are uncertain,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated.
The Food and Drug Administration remains active in studying the chemical.
“Because exposure to some types of PFAS have been linked to serious health effects, we are working to better understand PFAS in foods,” an FDA fact sheet explained.
“If the agency finds that the level of PFAS creates a health concern about a particular food, we take action,” it said.
Desai’s TikTok video alarmed many people who use the panned pans.
“Nowadays I really dont know what to use anymore,” sighed one person.
“Only doctors can afford throwing pans once every month!” joked another.
“My pans gets scratched after 4-5 uses,” admitted one frequent cook. “If i dont use them ill need to buy a pan every week.”
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