Chemical used in Teflon linked to birth defects: EPA

U.S. environmental authorities say they’re concerned about a chemical used to create Teflon, the non-stick coating used in frying pans. They say the company that uses the chemical may not have protected its pregnant employees from birth defects.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a preliminary report into the chemical called C8, ammonium perfluorooctanoate . DuPont uses C8 to make Teflon but says all but three per cent of the chemical is taken out of the coating before it ends up on pots and pans.

The EPA has just launched an extensive review of C8, used for almost 50 years, because of evidence brought to its attention. –Full story