Of course Dupont is not too happy and of course Rona and Tony set no timeline. There M.O. on anything environmental is not to good.The federal government is moving to limit exposure to a persistent class of pollutants used in consumer products ranging from non-stick frying pans to upholstery.
Federal regulators will block imports of new products such as water repellents that break down into long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids, or PFCAs.
Products containing the chemical have non-stick, stain-repellent and water-resistant properties.
Federal regulators don't recommend that consumers toss out existing products that may contain the chemicals, saying most of the substances are eliminated during manufacturing.
"We don't believe, even at the quantities we're finding it in blood of humans for example, that the levels are such that there should be any concern at all from a human health perspective," Charles Ethier of Health Canada told CBC Newsworld on Tuesday.
PFOA linked to problems in animals
Studies on lab animals have linked one PFCA, called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), to cancer, immune problems and birth defects.
PFOAs may enter the environment during manufacturing.
Research by Scott Mabury, an environmental chemist at the University of Toronto, also suggests PFOAs may break down into a more persistent form that can escape from consumer products.
"The decision to prohibit the four substances in particular are more of a precaution, because of the concerns we have about the potential health and environmental risk."
DuPont produces two of the four new "fluorotelomer substances" included in an existing ban.
"DuPont believes that the decision by Environment Canada to extend its prohibition of four new fluorotelomer substances … is not warranted based on the available science," the company said in a statement.
Regulators also want to reduce emissions from residual sources of PFCA from products already on the market by negotiating with industry to cut emissions.
It's thought to be the first time a country has tried to prevent exposure to PFCAs by prohibiting new products.
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Minister Tony Clement announced the changes for PFCAs containing nine or more carbons in Saturday's issue of Canada Gazette, the federal government's official newsletter.
However, there's no immediate timeline for the changes.
Regulators are doing risk assessments to determine the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals, as well as researching what the key sources of exposure in humans are, Ethier said.
Well I have the same Cast Iron cookware I have had for 20 years and they seem to last forever, no money wasted on those cheap non stick pots and pans by me. I am sure there are some good ones but they can't stand up to the use and abuse of cast iron.
People always thought I was nuts but to me personally it is a waste of my money to buy expensive cookware when my Cast Iron cookware shows no sign of wearing out.
One of my frying pans and most of the pots were my grandmothers, so some of my set is quite old (50 years+) No non stick lasts that long....
Sure they may be a little heavy but they do not warp, cook evenly and I can use them over an open fire when I am camping.
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