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The Teflon Toxin

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Re: The Teflon Toxin

#191

Post by Floegipoky »

lfowles wrote: post #179
Retric wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can use noise canceling headphones/ear buds to avoid the chatter and lower the volume. At ~300$ there not cheap, but not only do they help save your hearing they are also less distracting for those around you.

Active noise cancelling still adds to the absolute volume, doesn't it? I use some headphones intended for muffling yardwork at the lowest setting to have music drown out frequent background noises (carts moving by, nearby keyboards) but not necessarily uncommon things like people chattering.

>> Active noise cancelling still adds to the absolute volume, doesn't it?

Noise canceling works by playing back the exact environmental frequencies through the headphones, 180 degrees out of phase. So from the perspective of your ears, noise canceling does lower the absolute volume.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#192

Post by criddell »

panglott wrote: post #78
geon wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And we never use soap. In theory, soap shouldn't be a problem. The non-stick coating is polymerized oil bonded to the metal. It's not soluble by soap. But there are conflicting opinions.

I went back to visit my mother once and discovered that for convenience she had started regularly running her cast iron skillets in the dishwasher. It certainly damaged the seasoning IMO, but not as much as you might expect. Not that I would ever do that.

The dishwasher might be more damaging because it uses detergent rather than soap and the water is typically very hot.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#193

Post by lfowles »

Floegipoky wrote: post #191
lfowles wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Active noise cancelling still adds to the absolute volume, doesn't it? I use some headphones intended for muffling yardwork at the lowest setting to have music drown out frequent background noises (carts moving by, nearby keyboards) but not necessarily uncommon things like people chattering.

>> Active noise cancelling still adds to the absolute volume, doesn't it? Noise canceling works by playing back the exact environmental frequencies through the headphones, 180 degrees out of phase. So from the perspective of your ears, noise canceling does lower the absolute volume.

Thanks for correcting me. I knew the physics behind it, so I'm not entirely sure why I've never self corrected that belief.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#194

Post by ars »

azinman2 wrote: post #183
ars wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heat it with oil and it will kill the canary at a lower temperature than teflon. Ergo oil is toxic. You are using bad logic and bad science.

Where are you getting that info?

From the FDA. Before they approved teflon for use in cookware they tested it vs oil.

Oil was found to be toxic at a lower temperature than teflon, making teflon safer than oil for high heat cooking.

Obviously when I say "oil is toxic" I'm being sarcastic.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#195

Post by gnopgnip »

azinman2 wrote: post #153
gambiting wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can buy an original Tefal pan for like $15-20, if it lasts a year that's ok with me. I wouldn't trust the no-brand $5 stuff either, but I would think that Tefal pans should be ok?

That stuff is just more toxicity. The non stick vaporizes at high temperatures (the Teflon website will warn against small birds in the kitchen... And that's the Teflon website!!!), and all those knicks and scratched are material coming off and into your food. There's no need for toxic cookware. Get high quality cast iron and you can give it to your future generations like my grandmother did for me. And if that flake…

The teflon on pans is inert and non toxic. It would not be digested if it was scratched off and in your food.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#196

Post by ars »

toufka wrote: post #186
ars wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teflon is not toxic. Some precursors are but once made it's completely inert. And a frying pan is mostly metal, it'll get recycled at some point and the teflon burned away anyway.

'not toxic' - until you heat it above its suggested operating temperature - which as I recall is about the temp of a 'high' setting on a stove.

If you heated it that high you would have smoke in your kitchen from the oil catching fire.

The operating temperature of teflon (approx 600f) is higher than the operating temperature of the oil (approx 400f) you cook with.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#197

Post by csours »

mikeash wrote: post #142
MoOmer wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, if we go by recent claims, GM is the winner (loser) here

GM didn't even make that calculation, did they? I thought they just sort of covered it up and hoped nobody would notice. Say what you will about cold-blooded calculations, but at least Ford analyzed the situation.

GM had a bad engineer, as well as poor engineering practice (not properly tracking Engineering Work Orders and part changes), along with poor understanding of the ignition/electronic system.

Source - Valukas Report

Disclaimer - I work for GM

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#198

Post by djb_hackernews »

atourgates wrote: post #140
smoyer wrote: post #56

What struck me most about this article is how much rationalization occurred. I'm amazed that a (presumably licensed) doctor can in one breath say they have a moral responsibility to safeguard the public, their workers and the environment, then in the next breath describe why the results of their own study didn't apply. But looking inward, I wonder if our industry doesn't do the same thing in many cases - what about:…

I think points are valid and worth considering, but unless new research finds something entirely new, "eye strain" doesn't damage your eyes. From the American Academy of Ophthalmology: "Watching televisions, including LCDs and flat screens, can't cause your eyes any physical harm. The same is true for using the computer too much or watching 3-D movies. Your eyes may feel more tired if you sit too close to the TV or s…

Tell that to my computer use induced Blepharitis.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#199

Post by elchief »

thezilch wrote: post #9

I've never understood the gravity of Teflon pans. I can never seem to keep them non-stick, whether it be because of using too high of heat or somehow scratch the damn thing. So, I got cast irons. It's trivial to keep them seasoned and thus non-stick, and they can take the beating of very high heat -- searing meats -- and any metal utensils or rough substances.

Cast Iron + Lots of Butter = Teflon

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#200

Post by superuser2 »

Retric wrote: post #122
mtviewdave wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the various recent threads about open office plans, some people have pointed out that extended use of headphones, at the volume required to shut out conversation, causes permanent hearing loss over the long term. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a tech company that takes that concern seriously.

You can use noise canceling headphones/ear buds to avoid the chatter and lower the volume. At ~300$ there not cheap, but not only do they help save your hearing they are also less distracting for those around you.

>avoid the chatter

If active noise canceling seems to lower conversation volume, it is because you've convinced yourself it should. No DSP located on your ear can analyze and cancel an unpredictable signal like conversation before it reaches your ear. It can be effective against drone sounds like motors, rushing air, etc. because the same cancellation signal works now as did 100ms ago. This is not true of human speech.

Opt for a pair of well-fitting in-ears. If you have the money, see an audiologist for a custom fit. With high-quality earbuds and a good seal, you can play music at a very low level and still 1) hear all its detail, and 2) not perceive outside sounds.

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