The Downfall of the Non-Stick Pan.

Over the past decade, our families at Marin, Barrett, & Murphy have been very focused on how to remove as many chemicals as we can from our family and work environments.

Can you blame us? In our line of work, we can’t help but be very active when it comes to being as vigilant as possible when it comes to avoiding as many chemicals as possible. But the one chemical that really blows our minds is PFAS or what is known as a forever chemical.

“According to a 2015 report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an astonishing 97 percent of Americans have at least some forever chemicals in their blood”

Or in other words, while we have all been enjoying cooking our scrambled eggs with an easy post clean up – we were all ingesting a little bit of the chemical in Teflon known as PFAS, short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.

And it’s not just our favorite non-stick pans. PFAS have found their way into an extensive range of consumer products and commercial uses, causing widespread contamination of water, soil, and even the blood of individuals and animals across the globe. Due to their remarkable persistence, these substances do not degrade in the environment and can linger in our bodies for an extended period of time, spanning years.

Here is a list of examples of other products that include this terrible chemical:

  • Cleaning products.

  • Water-resistant fabrics, such as rain jackets, umbrellas and tents.

  • Grease-resistant paper.

  • Nonstick cookware.

  • Personal care products, like shampoo, dental floss, nail polish, and eye makeup.

  • Stain-resistant coatings used on carpets, upholstery, and other fabrics.

This has been going on for almost 80 years.

This is also why the recent settlement with 3M for almost $11 billion dollars as well as the agreement from DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva to pay $1 billion is a major deal. The settlement will award water districts across the United States with the funds to install state-of-the-art water filtration technology to help remove these forever chemicals from the water.

This is just the beginning of the story. While this legal case marks a victory for water districts nationwide, individual lawsuits against the companies are also piling up. Science is now suggesting that if you have been affected by various types of cancer, the perpetual chemicals might be an unfortunate factor to consider.

If you or someone you care about has experienced a range of cancers, this news is certainly worth following. Our law firm will provide further updates in the coming weeks, so be sure to stay informed by following us here or on our various social media platforms.

Our dedicated team at Marin, Barrett, and Murphy Law Firm is here to support you. We understand the emotional and physical toll a cancer diagnosis can take, and we are committed to providing the compassion, respect, and legal expertise you deserve during this challenging time. For more information on this situation, follow our blog and other social media handles.