Risks of Teflon Relative Raised by Insider

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 16, 2005

Filed at 9:02 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- DuPont Co. hid studies showing the risks of a Teflon-related chemical used to line candy wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags and hundreds of other food containers, according to internal company documents and a former employee.

The chemical Zonyl can rub off the liner and get into food. Once in a person's body, it can break down into perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, known as PFOA, a related chemical used in the making of Teflon-coated cookware.