A national televison show did a report regarding Teflon late last year. That report questioned the safety on this product, which is found on cooking pans, carpeting and other household applications.

Now in a May 5 Charleston Gazette story more questions have been raised. It reported higher incidences of prostate, cervical and uterine cancer among persons exposed to the Teflon chemical C8, which is also called PFOA.

The study was conducted as part of a class action law suit consisting of persons who either worked in a Dupont plant that produced Teflon, or lived in the vicinity of the plant. The report finds that these people have an overall cancer rate of 10%, which is twice what would normally be expected to be found.

According to the published news article, the matter is in litigation and the report is part of that litigation. Dupont denies the expert's conclusion, and has indicated that it will conduct its own study.

Do you use Teflon? Many of us do or have. This may become a significant issue to watch and become aware of.

Meanwhile, the nonprofit, non partisan Environmental Working Group recently reported that PBDE's are being located in dust samples, almost everywhere. The report concludes that these fire retardant chemicals are so common, that we Amercians can't avoid being exposed to them. Some studies in laboratory animals have shown that exposure to PBDEs can affect brain and thyroid function in those animals.

According to the study, we can't avoid exposure to this material. Even if it were banned now, as it has been in much of Europe and California, we would still find it in dust and in food we consume. Apparently fish absorb the chemical and we absorb it when we eat the fish. Remember PCBs, sound familiar?

Earlier reports on this product informed us that PBDEs are being located in the breast milk of 5% of woman tested above levels that have caused problems for laboratory animals. Of course this is a concern because developing fetuses may be very much at risk.

For people who cook, have stain free rugs, and have dust in their homes, not a lot of great news.

Who ever said we are what we eat was wrong. We are what we pollute. Unfortunately, we have done a lot of harm to this small planet.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.