Strong and good-quality cookware is so important for the kitchen. It’s not only about the ease of cooking, but also the fact that high-quality pots and <keyword id="969058" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="pans">pans</keyword> will help you save gas, oil and time. Here’s a list of the best frying pans that will help you enjoy cooking your meals.<br /><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B08CS99918" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08CS99918_head"><div type="image" title="Top Pick" msid="81685001" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08CS99918</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08CS99918_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08CS99918_9797304850589727"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Carote 20cm Non-Stick Frying Pan with Glass Lid, Granite Coating from Switzerland, PFOA Free, Wood Effect <keyword id="6205347" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="bakelite">Bakelite</keyword> Handle, All Stove Compatible Including Induction&amp;Gas(Gift Wooden Turner)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This non-stick pan from Carote is a premium quality product. The pan is black in colour and has a swiss non-stick coating on it. It is a highly efficient and durable frying pan and is extremely safe to use. The pan is light in weight and very easy to clean. Make your cooking easy and hassle-free with this amazing non-stick frying pan.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08CS99918_3093583804959842"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The frying pan is safe for using in ovens as well. It has a sturdy long-lasting material.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B00EVQYIQQ" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B00EVQYIQQ_head"><div type="image" title="Editor&amp;#39;s Pick" msid="81685031" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B00EVQYIQQ</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B00EVQYIQQ_body"><bulletContentRow name="B00EVQYIQQ_7092512784049229"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Hawkins <keyword id="862007" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Futura">Futura</keyword> Nonstick Frying Pan with Glass Lid, Capacity 1.5 Litre, Diameter 26 cm, Thickness 3.25 mm, Black (NF26G)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This frying pan from Hawkins Futura is a great product. The pan comes with a glass lid cover and has a capacity of 1.5 litres. The pan is black in colour and has a high quality non-stick coating on it. The frying pan is made up of premium quality material and has great durability, making it a long-lasting material.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B00EVQYIQQ_6456439244147300"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Available in different sizes to choose from.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B00QWQ17PS" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B00QWQ17PS_head"><div type="image" title="Popular Pick" msid="81685050" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B00QWQ17PS</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B00QWQ17PS_body"><bulletContentRow name="B00QWQ17PS_6388600439952381"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Prestige Omega Deluxe Granite Fry Pan, 240mm, Black (36305)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This frying pan from Prestige is a black coloured non-stick frying pan. It is made up of high quality aluminium material. The pan is highly durable and has a dishwasher safe material. It comes with a capacity of 1.7 litres. The pan has a granite finish and is extremely efficient.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B00QWQ17PS_9675010643309640"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Extremely durable and easy to use.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B07PC75DH2" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07PC75DH2_head">          <div type="image" title="Must Have" msid="78800590" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07PC75DH2</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07PC75DH2_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07PC75DH2_3908357580341058"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Amazon Brand - Solimo – Non-Stick Fry Pan</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This non-stick frying pan by Solimo is made from 100% virgin aluminium, and is ideal for sauteing, stir-frying or shallow frying. The non-stick coating allows you to use little to no oil while cooking. The handle is slender and firm, so you should have no trouble while using it. It is ideal for a family of four.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07PC75DH2_7867079224992683"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Has induction base, Bakelite handle will not heat, and pan is very durable.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B08FB2XN7D" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08FB2XN7D_head"><div type="image" title="Also Consider" msid="81685065" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08FB2XN7D</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08FB2XN7D_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08FB2XN7D_8552126028154349"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Greenchef Fry Pan-200mm (Aluminum, Non-Stick)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This frying pan from Greenchef is a non-stick pan. It is made up of good quality aluminium material and has a strong built. The pan is safe to use and cook since it has a food-grade non-stick coating on it. It has a sturdy structure and has a firm grip.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08FB2XN7D_7804859060836542"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Budget friendly product.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br />

Buy stainless steel non-stick frying pans in India

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The California city of Ridgecrest was rocked by a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/earthquake-hit-california-second-major-quake-in-two-days-2019-7">series of earthquakes</a> last week that caused damage to buildings and residences. </li><li>The epicenter of the quakes was located near the <span>Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, a large military testing site that was shut down amid <a href="https://www.desertsun.com/story/weather/2019/07/05/magnitude-earthquake-felt-palm-springs-area/1662857001/">reports that some of its structures were damaged</a>.</span></li><li><span>The site's groundwater was recently found to contain <a href="https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article230009434.html">elevated levels</a> of "forever chemicals" called </span><a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas">per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances</a>, or PFAS.</li><li>PFAS have been associated with cancer, liver damage, and developmental issues in people. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more.</a></li></ul><p>The ground is no longer shaking in Ridgecrest, the California city <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/earthquake-hit-california-second-major-quake-in-two-days-2019-7">rocked by a spate of strong earthquakes</a> over the 4th of July weekend, but residents are starting to consider a new set of dangers.</p><p>Beyond <a href="https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-earthquake-trona-ridgecrest-engineers-20190707-story.html">scientists' worrisome predictions</a> that another earthquake might strike in the coming days, <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCBlake/status/1147497887238168578">questions have arisen</a> about risks associated with the <span>Naval Air Weapons Station China </span>Lake, a large military testing site<span> outside the city.</span></p><p><span>The station was <a href="https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-earthquake-naval-air-weapons-station-china-lake-20190708-story.html">evacuated and later closed</a> amid <a href="https://www.desertsun.com/story/weather/2019/07/05/magnitude-earthquake-felt-palm-springs-area/1662857001/">reports that some of its structures were damaged</a> by the earthquakes. On July 5, the station <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NAWSChinaLake/videos/454029088727905/?__xts__[0]=68.ARDKrghgEv_KAKWMY28ms_8oc9fYc4vpuivO-vfsjrC2TZZN35KNcBgTcbcjgdfPF_1ykMVAV-lOhU9vilpNHYyyTC48x6HYZH9Z0g3prArxdCAdP2TDtPCRuASyquNVrEhtRbJpeqe-Z0t8WeU7GLutSBdsiA_HQNFl-qd0ay1b0E5EAvCbhktM_zKe00V9OoTVhb3NU2GbX4e0A0e-UlB4y2Z1qErImkKlCGsvAWrExq9mUJhY92-ln5VPJmZAAKZxHWu_86bNlQuC6WPaLUwHr9UUKIzz1rrJbThEz9Fwgj-vgVciYGRL68qWCKkCFtwYEiaMddxoE7PEpd2_QGQ11ys08bCuDq85Nh2UONCqkzuT25seoaUt4A&amp;__tn__=-R">confirmed via Facebook</a> that the epicenter was located on two faults on its property, which spans </span><span>an area larger than Rhode Island.</span></p><p><span><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/base-isolation-buildings-safe-earthquake-2019-6">A critical 'base isolation' system could keep California buildings from crumbling during an earthquake, but few structures have it</a></em></span></p><p><span>Potential damage or leaks at the site could be cause for concern, since the station's groundwater was found to contain <a href="https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article230009434.html">elevated levels</a> of a class of harmful chemicals called </span><a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas">per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances</a>, or PFAS, e<span>arlier this year</span>.</p><p><span>It's unclear whether the earthquake could have affected the levels of PFAS in the local water. But the station <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NAWSChinaLake/posts/2824561414237315?__xts__[0]=68.ARByOP4FGDuXsjQs_bxoARSenYY_HOnZ5n8S8jQtnGRH7LBd_6tdVR4jXO6SQVYTiz8WIXD1gP378paaDrvCK9XY_TBHsVFOgjzuC1xsv9cmlwFWSKzzekDd1aRA59fRhu6mXVxpgqWNwUikCmA0TDfNcpBzl65wdU-rq6xIBWeckFL2g53BZ1SE5n7ZmwWNJDPIEmRlekAHm_MiPUr1dOzl6BtchExIfoE3Ddgj3xuKdNcLHAyQMz5LaP84uz9x39d-lGaLRN_XXScoeyU4Gu7ZZmZuA7lccKfHam9N117HZ1eG8Hd6z7tRMYjdRpcYH6YprAZEEyxDc3H6x-v1nw&amp;__tn__=-R">encouraged essential personnel</a> who have returned to the site to report "significant cracks, exposed electrical wiring, hazmat spills, water leaks, unusual smells, etc." and to "wear appropriate personal protective equipment" when cleaning their work area. </span><span></span></p><p>PFAS have been linked to higher risks of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855507/">cancer</a>, liver damage, and developmental issues. The chemicals are good at resisting heat, grease, stains, and water. Though many have been phased out of manufacturing processes, they still lurk in drinking water and consumer goods such as food packaging, carpets, leather, textiles, and non-stick cookware.</p><p>PFAS rarely break down in the environment, so they can linger in water and air for thousands of years - a trait that has earned them the nickname "forever chemicals." Consuming or inhaling them means the chemicals could stay in the body for life.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p>PFAS became popular in the United States around the 1940s, but the EPA has since established a health advisory for two types of PFAS that it considers most concerning: PFOA and PFOS. Drinking water with PFOA and PFOS that exceed 70 parts per trillion is a human health risk, according the organization. The New York City Department of Health recently <a href="https://www.apnews.com/63bffd42efaf49d08d114ea4443491f0">approved an even lower safety limit</a> of 10 parts per trillion.</p><p><span>But a report from Northeastern University and the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that <a href="https://www.ewg.org/release/mapping-pfas-contamination-crisis-new-data-show-610-sites-43-states">the water source at the China Lake station</a> contained PFAS levels of 8 million parts per trillion - </span><span>more than 114,000 times the EPA threshold. </span></p><p><span>The Navy has <a href="https://www.secnav.navy.mil/eie/Documents/Perfluorinated-Compounds-Perfluoroalkyl-Substances-(PFC-PFAS)%E2%80%93Identification-of-Potential-Areas-of-Concern-(AOCs).pdf">attributed its use of PFAS</a> to firefighting foam used during <a href="https://www.ewg.org/research/pfas-chemicals-contaminate-us-military-sites">training exercises and emergency responses</a>, a practice that began in</span><span> the 1970s. In 2018, the US Department of Defense reported that at least 90 Air Force, Army, and Navy bases had <a href="https://www.denix.osd.mil/derp/home/documents/pfos-pfoa-briefing-to-the-hasc/">PFAS-contaminated groundwater</a> that exceeded the EPA's acceptable levels.</span></p><p>A <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/272391/WHO-CED-PHE-EPE-18.01-eng.pdf">2018 report</a> from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that "sites where chemicals are produced, used, or stored are vulnerable to earthquake-related damage."</p>

The earthquakes in southern California were centered near a naval station contaminated with 'forever chemicals'

<p class="financial-disclaimer"><i>When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a></i></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"></a></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>If you're a fan of nonstick pans but aren't too pleased with the way (toxic) nonstick coatings tend to flake off, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">HexClad</a> might be your new favorite <keyword id="418044" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cookware">cookware</keyword> brand.</strong></li><li><strong><keyword id="9712827" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hexclad">HexClad</keyword>'s nearly indestructible three-ply pans consist of stainless steel, magnetic stainless steel (for magnetic induction stovetops) and aluminum, finished off with laser etchings and diamond (carbon) dust.</strong></li><li><strong>We put one through its paces for three months. Here's how it did.</strong></li></ul>Table of Contents: Static<p>Usually, when it comes to choosing a pan from your quiver, the quest begins with the question of either nonstick or uncoated solid metal (cast iron, steel, copper, and so on). With nonstick, you're safer from botching omelets, pancakes, or anything else that might glue itself to the surface of your skillet. Accidentally scratch that nonstick coating (be it Teflon, or other polymers), though, and it's game over. On the other hand, there's metal, which is great for searing, can handle higher heat, and is mostly dishwasher-safe — scratches merely offer character, not a death sentence, to a solid metal pan. Still, it's anything but nonstick, and generally requires generous assistance from oil or butter.</p><p>Enter 2020, the year of HexClad (among...other things). The brand's unique three-ply pans offer the best of both worlds, which is why they're slowly replacing all of the cookware in my <keyword id="27180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kitchen">kitchen</keyword>. Here's my full review. </p><h2>Tech and specs</h2><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong><div type="image" title="hexclad2" height="900" width="1200" msid="77403608" hostid="261"></div></strong></a></p><p>There's all sorts of technology incorporated into these pans. Most of it is not novel, though. Similarly to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/all-clad-d3-armor-oval-fish-pan-review" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">All-Clad's d3 pans</a>, HexClad's cookware consists of an aluminum core wedged between two layers of stainless steel (one of which is magnetic for compatibility with magnetic induction cooktops).</p><p>What <em>is</em> new is the hexagonal pattern and the diamond dust finish. Diamond dust, or diamond powder, is something commonly used in the beauty trade to illuminate skin and hide blemishes, offering a sheen that also purportedly lends these pans their nonstick surface.</p><p>The hexagonal pattern is actually a series of etchings that leave stainless steel ridges, or "peaks"  and "valleys," as the brand refers to them, which also contribute to the cookware's nonstick properties. What you're left with is something virtually scratch-proof (the brand says scratch-resistant, but I've yet to manage a scratch at all) that functions every bit as well as more traditional coatings like <a href="https://www.carawayhome.com/pages/our-materials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teflon,</a> a material <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cooking-tools/cookware-reviews/a17426/nonstick-cookware-safety-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that can release toxic chemicals</a> when it reaches 500 degrees. HexClad's pans are also free of PFOA/C8, by the way, which the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/PFOA_FactSheet.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CDC</a> and the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Cancer Society</a> list as a harmful substance to both humans and the environment. </p><p>To get a better grasp of how this pan is supposed to work, we reached out to CEO and President of HexClad, Daniel Winer: "Our design is laser etched directly into the steel. Then the non-stick is added into the "valleys" and it is triple polished," he said. "So essentially, your food is resting on top of the steel, which is why you get the great sear." In my experience, all of this checks out. Even though I aggressively burned eggs and fish skin in my HexClad pan, all it took was a quick swipe of a sponge to ready my skillet for the next attempt. </p><p>Then there's the handle. It's designed to stay cool while the skillet itself heats, and I have to say that I haven't developed a single burn from handling this pan. The handle also fits perfectly well in the palm of at least three different-sized hands, which, sadly, is not often the case. This thing wins design points all around in my book.</p><h2>In the kitchen, on the stove, and beyond</h2><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><div type="image" title="hexclad4" height="900" width="1200" msid="77403610" hostid="261"></div></a></p><p>Let me break here and say that I adamantly despise nonstick pans with proprietary polymer coatings, which are essentially all the same and more or less toxic. Sure, we're probably getting a little granular, and while I don't fancy myself much of a hippie or a hypochondriac, I try to keep gratuitous harmful substances out of my diet when and where it's within reason.</p><p>Further, when I <em>have</em> owned nonstick cookware, it hasn't lasted long in my hands. A couple of careless swipes with a metal spatula and it was game over and into the trash bin for those unfortunate (and unworthy) pieces of inventory within my already-too-crowded kitchen.</p><p>So, when I received my sample to test from HexClad, the first thing I did was break out the stainless steel spatula and get to scraping. Rather than find flecks of carbon, steel, or whatever else in my freshly caught and filleted fish, I was going to get to the bottom of this pan immediately. But scratch and scrape I did, and there wasn't so much as a blemish on the surface of the pan. It passed its first test effortlessly. (I, on the other hand, had broken a sweat, and worked up an appetite.)</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><div type="image" title="hexclad" height="900" width="1200" msid="77403612" hostid="261"></div></a></p><p>Next, I scrubbed it with the wrong (green) side of a Brillo sponge (you learn very quickly not to use Brillo on good stainless steel when working in a commercial kitchen). Still no scratches.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><div type="image" title="hexclad6" height="900" width="1200" msid="77403614" hostid="261"></div></a></p><p>Then I set it on the gas stove with a medium flame and cracked an egg into it, sans oil or butter. This, as I see it, is the ultimate nonstick cookware test. The egg ended up sticking some, but this is a freshly scrubbed pan. With a little seasoning, or a small drizzle of oil, there's no trouble, and a spatula is not necessary. At least not in good hands.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L36PTD9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_073020_hexclad-pan-skillet-cookware-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07L36PTD9&amp;linkId=d89b783d3ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e8543ea8980ca4396b4ac5f8e854" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><div type="image" title="hexclad5" height="900" width="1200" msid="77403616" hostid="261"></div></a></p><p>In the ensuing months, I've managed to cook everything from crispy-skinned fish, to a slew of sauces, and reheated grits. The best part? The skillet goes right in the dishwasher.</p><p>And, should anything horrific happen to your pan — though after three months of careless use I can't possibly imagine how — it's covered by a lifetime warranty, save for cosmetic damage that won't affect the quality of the cookware anyhow. </p><h2>The bottom line</h2><p>If cooking is a hobby of yours, you don't need a HexClad, but it will get any job done with relative ease compared to whatever else you're cooking in. If you're working with nonstick cookware already, upgrading to HexClad is worth it without a shadow of a doubt. And let me add that if you are using something like Teflon and not regularly disposing of it at the first sign of flaking, then you're flagrantly gambling with carcinogens.</p><p>If you happen to view cooking as more of a chore than anything else, and want to be in and out of the kitchen as fast as humanly possible, you almost objectively need this pan (and I don't make recommendations lightly). If you're comfortable with what you have for now, great. My money is on HexClad being around whenever the time <em>does</em> come for you to invest in some new cookware, and the company's offer of a <a href="https://hexclad.com/pages/lifetime-warranty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifetime warranty</a> certainly doesn't hurt. HexClad makes eight-, 10-, and 12-inch skillets as well as a griddle and a series of wok-stir-fry hybrids and pots, though the best deal is probably the seven-piece set. If you're not in need of that much cookware, a single pan is always a good place to start.</p><p><strong>Pros:</strong> Dishwasher-safe, scratch-resistant, PFOA and C8-free, compatible with magnetic induction stovetops, lifetime warranty</p><p><strong>Cons: </strong>Depending on how you see it, maybe the price</p>

HexClad skillets work for any and all cooktops — here's why it's the only nonstick pan you'll find in my kitchen

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Tens of millions of Americans are exposed to unsafe drinking water each year.</li><li><span>The problem is most egregious in rural areas, but a few major cities face a widespread threat of contamination.</span></li><li>Some of the most common contaminants found in tap water include lead, which can produce permanent brain damage in children, and PFOA, which h<span>as been linked with cancer.</span></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories</a>.</strong></li></ul><p>Access to clean water may be a <a href="https://undocs.org/A/RES/64/292">fundamental human right</a>, but it's far from a reality in many towns and cities across America.</p><p>Even in the wake of the Flint water crisis, which <a href="https://www.apnews.com/de64ebe964d040ee814e914f4cb903cc">exposed around 10,000 residents</a> in Michigan to lead-contaminated drinking water, an estimated <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/115/9/2078">ten of millions of Americans</a> are still exposed to unsafe drinking water each year.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cities-worst-tap-water-us-2019-3">11 cities with the worst tap water in the US</a></em></p><p><span>The problem is most egregious in rural areas, but a few major cities face a widespread threat of contamination, which could have lifelong consequences for the health of local residents. </span></p><p>Exposure to toxins such as <span>radium</span> or arsenic can lead to cancer, while exposure to lead can produce permanent brain damage in children. Here are some of the most terrifying toxins that pervade America's water supply. </p>

9 terrifying things that could be lurking in your tap water

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mike Groll/AP Photo</span></p><p class="caption">In this Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 photo, Zander Spurr, a fifth grader at St. Mary's Academy, drinks water from a water bottle that has been set up in the school in Hoosick Falls, New York.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Water contamination in an upstate New York village has brought officials' handling of early information under <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/EPA-and-state-warned-of-Hoosick-Falls-water-6812774.php">scrutiny</a>.</p><p>Just as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-is-flint-michigan-dangerous-2016-1">lead in the water in Flint, Michigan</a> took over a year to gain widespread attention, Hoosick Falls' battle with a synthetic contaminant has been quietly unfolding largely outside the public eye since late 2014. Despite cleanup efforts, recent testing suggests that the crisis is not over.</p><p>The village, with a population of 3,500, has been battling elevated levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the municipal water supply - an <a href="http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-04/documents/factsheet_contaminant_pfos_pfoa_march2014.pdf">"emerging contaminant"</a> that poses "potential adverse effects for the environment and human health," according to the EPA.</p><p>The contaminant <a href="http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2016/01/hoosick_falls_cancer_tap_water_epa.html">has also been linked </a>to a number of diseases, including kidney and testicular cancer. Michael Hickey, a resident who brought concerns about PFOA to the village board and mayor, began researching the link between the chemical and cancer after his own father died unexpectedly <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/nyregion/fears-about-water-supply-grip-village-that-made-teflon-products.html?smid=tw-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur">of kidney cancer</a>. </p><p>The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is now <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/hoosick/">investigating</a> the possibility of elevated cancer rates in the village. The state is also investigating the potential <a href="http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2016/03/8592457/state-pollution-investigation-hoosick-falls-widens">spread of contaminants</a> to nearby towns.</p><p>But despite efforts to mitigate the contamination, elevated - in some cases increased - PFOA levels have <a href="http://www.villageofhoosickfalls.com/Water/testing.html">still been detected</a> in recent months and questions remain as to how so many months were allowed to pass before officials warned the public against drinking the water.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mike Groll/AP Photo</span></p><p class="caption">In this Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 photo, Michael Hickey poses near Hoosick Falls municipal well 7 between two baseball fields in Hoosick Falls.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>'W<span>e don't know how long you have been drinking contaminated water'</span></h2><p>In late 2014, village officials, tipped off by Hickey, tested water samples and found that 1 of the the 3 tested had a concentration of PFOA above the EPA's provisional guideline of 400 parts per trillion (ppt).</p><p>In statements to media and letters to residents, village officials stressed that the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/pfoa-pfos-provisional.pdf">EPA's provisional health advisory</a> for PFOA did not set an "enforceable standard" for safe drinking water levels and that the town was in compliance with what relevant regulation did exist.</p><p>Some state officials, for their part, <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/Officials-critical-of-alerts-about-Hoosick-Falls-6822266.php">say</a> that they were not made aware of the situation as early as the village claims. The village website's <a href="http://www.villageofhoosickfalls.com/Water/timeline.html">timeline</a> of events was still being corrected, according to Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge, during the reporting of this story.</p><p>In any case, citing the test results, the NYSDOH <a href="http://www.villageofhoosickfalls.com/Media/PDF/RiskCharacterizationAndHealthEffectsLanguageForPFOA.pdf">told village officials</a> that the PFOA concentration in Hoosick Falls' public water "does not constitute an immediate health hazard." At the time, the state grouped PFOA with other "unspecified organic contaminants," which meant that up to 50,000 ppt was considered acceptable in water, 125 times the level advised by the EPA.</p><p>Nearly a year later, in December 2015, the EPA issued its own <a href="http://www.villageofhoosickfalls.com/Media/PDF/EPAStatementHoosickFallsWaterContamination.pdf">public notice</a> explicitly recommending residents not drink the water in Hoosick Falls. A letter weeks earlier from the EPA to Borge cited new June test results obtained by the NYSDOH which found PFOA levels above 600 ppt in public water.</p><p>EPA spokesperson Mary Mears claims that the EPA did not receive the June test results until the agency reached out to the NYSDOH in the fall. </p><p>Judith Enck, the EPA regional administrator who wrote the agency's letter to Borge, was only made aware of the Hoosick Falls situation in October when an attorney representing concerned citizens reached out to her, the Albany Times Union <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/EPA-and-state-warned-of-Hoosick-Falls-water-6812774.php">reported</a>. At a town meeting, Enck <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Concerned-citizens-pack-Hoosick-Falls-water-6760001.php">apologized</a> to residents:</p><p>"I'm sorry that we don't know how long you have been drinking contaminated water," Enck said. "No medical studies or surveys have been done in Hoosick Falls. Action should be taken to protect your health."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mike Groll/AP Photo</span></p><p class="caption">Hoosick Falls Mayor Dave Borge speaks during a news conference on his village's contaminated drinking water on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Hoosick Falls.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge claimed that the village was first informed of the June test results over the phone in August. He referred Business Insider to NYSDOH officials for details on the distribution of the department's June results, but state officials have not yet provided comment to Business Insider.</p><p>Borge noted that the EPA's <a href="http://www.villageofhoosickfalls.com/Media/PDF/EPA-PFOA-letter-112515.pdf">November 2015 letter</a> - its first recommendation against drinking the water - contradicted the earlier information provided by the NYSDOH.</p><p>"Since first learning about this issue in August 2014, officials from the Village of Hoosick Falls have pursued two goals: ensuring a clean, safe water supply for our residents and identifying the source or sources of PFOA in local groundwater so it can be cleaned up," Borge said by email.</p><p>Hickey is hesitant to place blame on single party - including Borge - for the delayed recommendation to avoid the water, citing instead the lack of cooperation between the various agencies involved. But he did seem shocked at the NYSDOH's response to the information they were supplied with.</p><p>"It seems like [the NYSDOH] just wanted to go the easy way out and stand behind the maximum of 50,000 ppt," Hickey told Business Insider. He said that the department seemed not to know what to do with an unregulated contaminant, but called the initial response "pure laziness."</p><h2>Aftermath</h2><p>Saint-Gobain, a construction materials company, and Honeywell have been named <a href="http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/105069.html">formally responsible</a> for the contamination. Water samples near the Saint-Gobain's Hoosick Falls Plant, though not in the public water supply, had been shown to have PFOA concentration as high as 18,000 ppt. Honeywell previously owned the site of the plant.</p><p>Saint-Gobain has agreed to fund bottled water until a permanent replacement is installed. It will also fund filters installed in the existing water treatment system.</p><p>The state Department of Environmental Conservation, moreover, made an emergency classification of PFOA as a hazardous substance in order to unlock funding for water filtration systems, free water sample tests, free blood tests, and additional planning for a "possible alternate water supply."</p><p>Since the contamination looks to have spread to private wells and nearby areas, Hickey isn't optimistic about new water sources: "I think it's probably going to be a longer process."</p><p>The state DEC says it has made <a href="http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/105254.html">"significant progress"</a> in the search for new water sources.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mike Groll/AP Photo</span></p><p class="caption">In this Jan. 21, 2016 file photo, the Hoosic River runs through the village of Hoosick Falls, N.Y.</p></div><p></p></div></div>In January, the EPA issued a <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-01/documents/epa_statement_on_private_wells_in_the_town_of_hoosick.pdf">new statement</a>, indicating that private well owners who have not tested their water or else found their water to test above <em>100</em> ppt-not 400-should stick to bottled water for drinking and cooking. This time, Mayor Borge and the state health department have expressed <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Feds-Don-t-drink-water-6791888.php">agreement</a> with the EPA.</p><p>"I want to caution residents that the EPA's recommendation to refrain from using the municipal water for drinking and cooking still remains in effect," Borge was quoted as saying. "It will likely take another few weeks for NYSDOH to conduct a rigorous sampling program to ensure the carbon filtration system is effectively removing PFOA from the water."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-vs-rubio-water-bottle-rally-2016-2">Trump and Rubio are trying to one-up each other with these incredible insults </a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5xYXNkMTE6RCsXHxIN1TffJXW30z1aRz" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Officials took months to warn residents of a tiny New York village of an impending disaster in their water supply

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AquaTru</span></p><p class="caption">Erin Brockovich never drinks water straight from the tap.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Erin Brockovich is a former legal clerk and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/drinking-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clean-water</a> advocate who was made famous by Julia Roberts' Oscar-winning portrayal of her in the 2000 film that shares her name. </strong></li><li><strong>Brockovich helped citizens of Hinkley, California fight California Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&amp;E) after unsafe levels of the carcinogen Chromium 6 were found in their water. </strong></li><li><strong>Brockovich told Business Insider that she's "funny" about her own drinking water.</strong></li><li><strong>She offered a few tips for how to determine if your tap water is safe to drink and what to do when it's not. </strong></li></ul><p>If tap water looks like the color of "light pee," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/erin-brockovich" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Erin Brockovich</a> refuses to drink it. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/erin-brockovich-protect-against-contaminated-dirty-water-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-billed</a> "water gal" made a name for herself fighting California Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&amp;E) in 1996, when Chromium-6 leeched into tap water in the Mojave Desert. The legal case ended with <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/04/local/me-briefs4.S6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a $333 million settlement</a>.</p><p>At low-level concentrations, the cancer-causing chemical can turn clear water yellow, and when it's really bad, a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/environment-greece-chromium6-dc/river-runs-purple-contaminates-greek-town-idUSL0817394820071205" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water source contaminated with 'Chrome-6' can flow purple</a>. </p><p>But even when tap water is perfectly clear, Brockovich admits she's still "funny about water," and rarely, if ever, drinks straight from a tap. </p><p>"I don't want to drink chlorine. I don't want to drink ammonia. None of us do," Brockovich told Business Insider. "I feel safe enough and know enough about my tap water that I shower and bathe, but I don't know. I don't like how it tastes, smells."</p><p>She said this worry comes from what she sees as an unspoken "emerging crisis" the US: more <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-water-could-get-dirtier-trump-infrastructure-plan-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unsafe drinking water is flowing out of our taps</a>, and our system is unprepared to deal with the problem.</p><p>These days, Chromium 6 (now sometimes called "Erin Brockovich chemical") is not her main concern.</p><p>"Right now, the largest emerging contaminant in the nation in water is PFOA - <span>Perfluorooctanoic acid,</span>" Brockovich said.</p><p><span>PFOA is a manufactured chemical that may be best known as Teflon, the non-stick substance that lets you easily slide scrambled eggs out of a pan. It's part of a broad class of thousands of man-made chemicals </span>called PFAS (<span>perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), that can be stain-proof, water-proof, and fire-proof.</span></p><p><span><em><strong>Read More</strong></em>: <em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-pfas-chemicals-2018-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dangerous 'forever chemicals' have been found in US drinking water at alarmingly high rates - here's what to know about PFAS</a></em></span></p><p><span>Unfortunately, the same qualities that make PFAS good at suppressing fires, keeping pants stain-free, and repelling rain means they </span><span>don't break down in the environment. Instead, the artificial chemicals remain intact in water and air for thousands of years. </span></p><p><span>They can also easily build up in the human body as they move from the water we drink into our bloodstream</span><span>. Experts agree that every person has at least some PFAS in their system. Excessive exposure to the chemicals can be linked to health problems including</span> low<span> </span><a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1408837/">birth rates</a>, <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf">liver damage, </a>high<span> </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831917/">cholesterol</a>, chronic<span> </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/174/8/893/155305">kidney disease</a>, <a href="https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84875892899&amp;origin=inward&amp;txGid=844879ea1025c14294130641a08571ef">asthma</a>, <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1001898/">attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder</a><span> </span>(ADHD), <a href="https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84856182161&amp;origin=inward&amp;txGid=5669c5a51fb731893718348e90b9d512">immunization resistance</a><span> </span>in children, early<span> </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29986037%20">menopause</a>, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29777922#%20">colon ulcers.</a></p><p>"<span>I think we're pretty convinced that these chemicals are immune toxicants that we should be concerned about," Linda Birnbaum, a microbiologist who directs the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health, </span><span>said last month. </span></p><h2><span>Why 'forever chemicals' like PFOAs are in the water</span></h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="www.flickr.com/photos/apreche/3409049959/">Flickr/Apreche</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p>PFAS chemicals were <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/drinkingwaterresponse/docs/atsdr_pfas_factsheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">darlings of chemical-industry</a> leaders like 3M and DuPont for much of the 20th century following their discovery in the 1930s. PFAS were championed for their ability to fight grease (Teflon) and repel water (GoreTex and Scotchguard), They were also used to make a firefighting foam used at military bases around the country.</p><p>But <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/pfcs/history.html">waste dumped</a><span> from chemical manufacturing plants can contaminate groundwater with PFAS chemicals, and they can also seep into </span><a href="https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/02/21/newburgh-takes-first-step-in-suing-state-feds-over-water-contamination-268671">lakes and other freshwater sources</a><span> after firefighting foam gets used. PFAS are extremely persistent, so if they leech out of household products like cooking pans or if  people unwittingly drink or inhale them, the chemicals bio-accumulate in our bodies. Then they're pretty much with us for life.</span></p><p><span>Researchers from <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00260">Harvard estimated in 2016</a> that at least 6 million Americans - nearly 2% of the population - were drinking water with PFAS levels higher than what the EPA recommends. EPA testing done between 2013 and 2015 found significant amounts of PFAS in public water supplies in 33 US states</span></p><p>Eight big chemical companies in the US (including DuPont and 3M) voluntarily phased out the chemicals in their products and replaced them with new ones by 2015. But those replacements are largely still unregulated by the EPA, and little is known about what they might do to us.</p><p>"We've got about 80,000-plus chemicals that just go onto the market and, 'oh, we'll find out later down the road how that turns out for us,'" Brockovich said. "PFOA is a perfect example of this." </p><p>Meanwhile, PFAS chemicals are still found in many other products, like stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, food packaging, raincoats, and even some cosmetics. Though the concentrations of PFAS we're exposed to through these sources is tiny, scientists like <span>Birnbaum</span> are increasingly concerned that even household dust may have elevated concentrations of the chemicals. </p><h2><span>How to ensure your water is safe to drink</span></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Jim Young/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Volunteers distributed bottled water in Flint, Michigan after the city's drinking water was contaminated with dangerously high levels of lead, March 5, 2016.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The first thing you can do if you're worried about the quality of your tap water is read your local water report. The Environmental Protection Agency makes <span>an </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bottled-water-facts-science-healthy-2017-4/%23but-research-suggests-that-for-most-americans-the-stuff-in-a-bottle-is-not-better-for-you-than-the-stuff-in-your-tap-in-fact-a-recent-report-found-that-almost-half-of-all-bottled-water-is-actually-derived-from-the-tap-but-may-be-further-processed-or-tested-for-safety-in-2007-pepsi-aquafina-and-nestle-pure-life-had-to-change-their-labels-to-more-accurately-reflect-this-7">annual drinking-water report available online</a>,<span> and there's also an independent tap-water database from the </span><a href="https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/#.Wk0SehNSyi6">Environmental Working Group</a><span>. </span></p><p>There are also a few ways to get rid of PFAS chemicals in your water. Experts like Birnbaum generally agree that reverse osmosis is one of the best techniques - that's what Brockovich opts for. She has even agreed to endorse a filtering product for the first time ever: the <a href="https://www.aquatruwater.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AquaTru home water filter.</a></p><p>Using the reverse-osmosis filter is "the most certain way to clean your water," Brockovich said.</p><p>AquaTru works a lot like a filtered water pitcher. You place it on the counter, plug it in, and fill the purifier with water from the tap. Then it takes about 15 minutes for the tank to clean a gallon of water before it's ready to drink.</p><p>At around $470 (not including replacement filters), AquaTru is more expensive than a reverse-osmosis system you might buy at the hardware store, but most other filters require under-the-counter installation.</p><p>Brockovich said that when she's away from home, she opts for bottled water (though she tries to buy water in glass bottles, since <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-drinking-plastic-does-to-your-body-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plastic can leech chemicals</a>). She doesn't like the pollution bottled water creates, but Brockovich said she feels safer drinking water that has probably been filtered more thoroughly than the stuff that comes out of the tap.</p><p>That's not true everywhere, though. Some states, like New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut, have adopted more stringent PFAS regulations than the EPA has. </p><p>Plus, bottled water is <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/29/AR2007072900063.html?noredirect=on" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often just treated tap water,</a> and the products are generally <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less regulated than what comes out of the tap</a>. As <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pictureofamerica/pdfs/Picture_of_America_Drinking_Water.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Centers for Disease Control</a> points out, "there are no requirements that bottled water quality data be reported to any federal agency or to the public."</p><p>Most bottled water sold in the US today is run through a filtration system before it gets packaged. Some labels even include the words "reverse osmosis." But the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm203620.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Drug Administration (FDA)</a> lets companies use the label "purified water" on water that's been treated in several different ways, so it's not always clear how it's been filtered.  </p><p>Brockovich also suggests people do their own visual inspection of tap and bottled water, and trust their instincts.</p><p><span>"Y</span>ou're not going to convince me when I'm looking at yellow water, green-yellow, brown water, water that looks like diarrhea, that it's going to be safe to drink," she said. "I let consumers know, use your own common sense ... if it looks funny or smells funny, don't drink it."</p><h2>The EPA can't say for sure if your water is safe to drink</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Matt Rourke</span></p><p class="caption">Peter Grevatt, director of the EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, and Cosmo Servidio, regional administrator for the mid-Atlantic region, listen to members of the public comment during a PFAS Community Stakeholder Meeting in Horsham, Pennsylvania. In Horsham and other sites around the US, the foams once used in firefighting training at military bases contained PFAS.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Although the EPA monitors our tap water, the agency admits it's a tricky job. </p><p>"The EPA and public may not know if water arriving at taps meets national drinking water standards," the agency wrote in a <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-05/documents/_epaoig_20180508-18-n-0174.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May 2018</a> report.</p><p>So an EPA stamp of approval does not always mean everything's alright in your home.</p><p>Water-quality data for cities and towns around the country is required to be reported every year, and it's available on the <a href="https://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/safewater/f?p=136:102::::::" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EPA's website</a>. But it's easier to find water-quality reports for <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/wsstate.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a big municipality like New York</a> than it is to retrieve information on smaller towns like South Bossier Parish, Louisiana. Health department officials there recently found deadly <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/09/28/brain-eating-amoeba-found-south-bossier-water-system/1461438002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain-eating amoebas</a> in the water system. </p><p>There are also many chemicals that the EPA doesn't test for. Unlike the FDA, which scrutinizes drugs and medical devices for years before they enter the consumer market, there's no preemptive EPA approval process for chemicals. </p><p>Aging infrastructure is also to blame for water contamination. <span>The </span><a href="https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/">American Society of Civil Engineers</a><span> gave the US' tap-water systems a D grade on its 2017 report card. </span></p><p>The EPA estimates that over <a href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/two-kansas-projects-are-invited-apply-wifia-loans-finance-275-million-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$743 billion</a> is needed for improvements to the country's decaying water infrastructure.</p><p>But Brockovich isn't holding out hope that'll happen anytime soon.</p><p>In fact, the Trump Administration is set to do the opposite. Trump's EPA is <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/environmental-protection-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to propose a rollback</a> on Tuesday that would undo decades-old protections for wetlands and streams that help <a href="http://www.haverhillma.gov/departments/wetlands_functions_and_values/wetlands_and_water_supply.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintain the quality</a> of our water supply. This is in addition to the administration's previous proposal to cut regulations on how <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-water-could-get-dirtier-trump-infrastructure-plan-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dirt can be dumped</a> into US waters, which was part of a failed infrastructure package that didn't make it to the floor of Congress.</p><p>"Superman's not coming," Brockovich said. "You need to inform yourself, educate yourself, be aware, use common sense."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/erin-brockovich-protect-against-contaminated-dirty-water-2017-8">Erin Brockovich reveals how she protects herself against contaminated water in America and abroad</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Erin Brockovich is warning about an emerging drinking-water crisis in the US. Here's how she recommends you protect yourself.

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><span>An FDA investigation </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fda-food-sampling-finds-contamination-by-forever-chemicals-2019-6">found evidence of a class of toxic chemicals</a><span> in samples of meat, seafood, and chocolate cake.</span></li><li>The chemicals in question, known as PFAS, have been associated with cancer, liver damage, and developmental issues.</li><li>The FDA said the samples are <span>"not likely to be a human health concern," but the agency did find concerning levels of PFAS at a dairy farm in New Mexico.</span></li><li><span>Scientists are still working to determine the source of PFAS in our food supply.</span></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>The rules of healthy eating used to be simple, at least in theory: Consume <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/foods-that-contribute-to-cancer-2019-2">fewer processed items</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eating-fat-wont-make-you-fat-sugar-will-2018-7">avoid sugar</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worst-diets-whole30-keto-daniel-fast-2019-3">keep your meals balanced</a>. But scientists are slowly uncovering a hidden threat that's complicating this narrative.</p><p>A recent investigation from the US <span>Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fda-food-sampling-finds-contamination-by-forever-chemicals-2019-6">found evidence of a class of manmade chemicals</a> that have been linked t</span>o cancer in numerous foods sold in mid-Atlantic grocery stores, inclu<span>ding samples of meat, seafood, and chocolate cake. </span></p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/foods-that-contribute-to-cancer-2019-2">Dangerous foods that could raise your risk of developing cancer</a></em></p><p>The chemicals in question -<span> </span><a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas">per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances</a>, or PFAS - became popular in the United States around the 1940s, when manufacturing companies realized PFAS could resist heat, grease, stains, and water. </p><p>Though many PFAS have been phased out of the manufacturing industry, they still lurk in drinking water and consumer goods such as food packaging, carpets, leather, textiles, and non-stick cookware. In addition to their<span> </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855507/">ties to cancer</a>, PFAS are associated with liver damage and developmental issues.</p><p><span>Since PFAS rarely break down in the environment, they can linger in water and air for thousands of years, landing them the nickname "forever chemicals." Consuming or inhaling them means they could stay in the body for life.</span></p><h2><span>The FDA said the food samples aren't a health concern - with one exception </span></h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></span></p><p><span>The FDA investigation, conducted in October 2017, <a href="https://static.ewg.org/pdf/alex-530.pdf?_ga=2.150885046.1436301861.1559576424-1588885892.1552930387">tested for 16 types of PFAS</a> in the mid-Atlantic regi</span>on, which the agency defined as West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Delaware.</p><p><span>After taking more than 90 samples <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/total-diet-study/total-diet-study-fact-sheet-consumers">from grocery stores</a>, the agency found trace amounts of PFAS in pineapples and sweet potatoes. It also found higher amounts of these "forever chemicals" in meat, seafood, chocolate milk, and chocolate cake.  </span></p><p><span>The samples of meat and seafood - which included ground turkey, steak, hot dogs, lamb chops, chicken thighs, tilapia, cod, salmon, shrimp, and catfish - all showed levels of PFAS that exceeded <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/drinking-water-health-advisories-pfoa-and-pfos">warning levels</a> set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The warning levels apply to drinking water and groundwater, not food. </span></p><p><span>Though the chocolate cake showed the highest amounts of PFAS (17,640 parts per trillion), it contained a variation that hasn't been evaluated by the EPA. </span><span></span></p><p><span>The FDA provided Business Insider with an advanced copy of its overview of the investigation, which states that the sampled food items are "not likely to be a human health concern."</span></p><p><span>The overview did point out, however, that samples from a dairy farm near an Air Force base in New Mexico showed concerning levels of PFAS in 2018. </span></p><p><span>The farm's groundwater and silage (grass fed to animals) had been contaminated with PFAS, causing cows to ingest the compound. T</span><span>he FDA estimated that it could take one-and-a-half years to remove PFAS from a cow that had been exposed to the contaminant for just 30 days. </span></p><p><span>Samples of milk taken from the dairy farm showed levels of PFOS that were 35 times greater than the EPA's health advisory threshold.</span></p><p><span>"Based on a safety assessment, samples were determined to be a human health concern and all milk from the farm was discarded," the FDA said in its overview. </span></p><h2><span>The EPA has issued a health advisory about certain types of PFAS</span></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>There are nearly 5,000 varieties of PFAS, but the EPA</span><span> has only established a health advisory for two types: </span>PFOA and PFOS<span>. </span></p><p><span>These chemicals represent "the most concerning" varieties of PFAS, said David Andrews, a senior scientist at the watchdog Environmental Working Group (EWG). </span></p><p><span>The EPA considers drinking water with PFOA or PFOS levels that exceed 70 parts per trillion to be a human health risk. Their </span><span>advisory is not a legal regulation, but serves as a warning to state agencies and public health officials. </span></p><p><span>When it comes to toxic chemicals, the EPA tends to be more cautious than most environmental groups, waiting for considerable bodies of scientific evidence before making a health determination. </span></p><p><span>"It took decades of study before we really understood how potent [PFAS] are," Andrews told Business Insider. </span><span>"We have to give up the assumption that all of these chemicals are perfectly safe ... These chemicals are concerning and we should eliminate as much [exposure to them] as possible." </span><span></span></p><h2>Scientists are still trying to find the source of 'forever chemicals' in our food</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p>There are a few theories as to why PFAS have turned up in our food supply, but scientists are still working to determine the most likely cause. </p><p>One possibility could be food packaging. In December 2018, a watchdog report <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-packaging-toxic-chemical-cancer-2018-12">found evidence of PFAS</a> in paper to-go boxes and a sandwich wrapper product at Whole Foods Market.</p><p>That same year, <span>Washington became the first US state to </span><a href="https://toxicfreefuture.org/governor-inslee-signs-ban-nonstick-chemicals-food-packaging/">ban PFAS from food packaging</a><span>, including microwave popcorn bags and fast food wrappers. A few months later, </span><a href="https://www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/08/safeguards-12418-san-francisco-bans-pfas-chemicals-in-single-use-food-service-ware">San Francisco banned PFAS</a><span> from single-use food containers, utensils, napkins, plates, straws, trays, and lids.</span></p><p>When <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00280"><span>biodegradable </span>packaging containing PFAS</a> gets composted, the chemicals can ultimately be fed to plants, which are later consumed by humans. </p><p>Another possible scenario, Andrews said, is demonstrated by the contaminated milk samples near the Air Force base in New Mexico. In the 1970s, the US Department of Defense <a href="https://www.ewg.org/research/pfas-chemicals-contaminate-us-military-sites">began using firefighting foam</a> that contained PFAS during <span>training exercises and emergency responses. By 2018, the department reported that at least 90 Air Force, Army, and Navy bases had <a href="https://www.denix.osd.mil/derp/home/documents/pfos-pfoa-briefing-to-the-hasc/">PFAS-contaminated groundwater</a> that exceeded the EPA's acceptable levels. </span></p><p>The EPA has also <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement">detected PFAS in the local water systems</a> in <span>Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, </span><a href="https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/02/21/newburgh-takes-first-step-in-suing-state-feds-over-water-contamination-268671">New York</a><span>, and North Carolina. When this <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-pfas-chemicals-2018-8">contaminated water</a> is applied to fields, it can wind up poisoning our food supply.</span></p><p>Andrews said the "common assumption" in the scientific community is that most humans are exposed to PFAS through food. But there's plenty more to learn. </p><p>"[The FDA investigation is] really just scratching the surface," he said.<span> "It opens up many more questions than answers."</span></p>

The FDA found 'forever chemicals' in meat, seafood, and chocolate cake sold in grocery stores. Here's how worried you should be.

<p class="financial-disclaimer"><i>When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a></i></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GRK9XK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B071GRK9XK&amp;linkId=c7514cc27036ff2e1c8dc8b5f26e570d7036ff2e1c8dc8b5f26e570d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored"></a></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>The non-stick surface of ceramic pans and <keyword id="418044" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cookware">cookware</keyword> make them extremely popular for home cooks.</strong></li><li><strong>Unfortunately, the ceramic surface stains easily if food is prepared at a high temperature, or it burns.</strong></li><li><strong>Keep your ceramic cookware looking like new with just some </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VRXPY3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B073VRXPY3&amp;linkId=6afcd691050778dcf221f9edcf80d41c050778dcf221f9edcf80d41c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>baking soda</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=35871X943606&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bjs.com%2Fproduct%2Fdawn-platinum-refreshing-rain-dishwashing-liquid-dish-soap-2-pk40-fl-oz%2F3000000000001177092&amp;xcust=1590509316939asloc5bvy|xid:fr1590509319680hci19680hci" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><strong>dishwashing liquid</strong></a><strong>, and </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LH1LG3U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01LH1LG3U&amp;linkId=82b18ff5d4a9d93c6222f2e51dd12909d4a9d93c6222f2e51dd12909" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored"><strong>hydrogen peroxide</strong></a> and following these easy steps.</li></ul><p>Valued for its non-stick surface, ceramic cookware is free of harsh chemicals like PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethlene) and PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) that can release toxic fumes when exposed to high temperatures. There are two very distinct types of cookware available that market themselves as ceramic cookware.</p><p>The most commonly sold pots and pans labeled as ceramic cookware are not 100% ceramic. Rather, they are made of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013FDOXJC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B013FDOXJC&amp;linkId=def55518778b6d747a6e6dddd11f94b1778b6d747a6e6dddd11f94b1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">cast iron</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VFMAUO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B008VFMAUO&amp;linkId=8e80a0aad0f245ebf6e778b73653011bd0f245ebf6e778b73653011b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">aluminum</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GRK9XK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B071GRK9XK&amp;linkId=c7514cc27036ff2e1c8dc8b5f26e570d7036ff2e1c8dc8b5f26e570d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">stainless steel</a> with a ceramic coating bonded to the interior surface of the cookware. You receive the non-toxic, non-stick benefits of ceramic but still have the heat-conducting capabilities of the metal at a reasonable price.</p><p>There are also 100-percent ceramic cookware pieces available from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X8YNRFB/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07X8YNRFB&amp;linkId=78e8d8f321228dd0e4b1724c3a408c9f21228dd0e4b1724c3a408c9f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Xtrema</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XWUKZM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B008XWUKZM&amp;linkId=7d85afe204ff637aac7d15e1dca980b104ff637aac7d15e1dca980b1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Corningware</a>. Using no metal, the cookware is formed from clay that is fired at extremely high temperatures to make it durable. Both the interior and exterior are highly polished and the pieces can be used in the oven, on the stovetop, in the microwave, or to store refrigerated food.</p><p>Both types of ceramic cookware should be cleaned in the same way to prevent staining and excessive wear to the interior finish.</p><h2><strong>Steps for <keyword id="6412409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cleaning">cleaning</keyword> ceramic cookware</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FDU05A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B007FDU05A&amp;linkId=8699f6b970154667b5ab8f18a46d0ef270154667b5ab8f18a46d0ef2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored"><strong><div type="image" title="Envision Kitchen Cloth" height="900" width="1200" msid="76075362" hostid="261"></div></strong></a></p><p>While some manufacturers say their cookware can be placed in an automatic dishwasher, others recommend hand-washing only. Hand-washing is always preferred because dishwashing liquid is less abrasive to the ceramic surface than dishwasher detergents.</p><p>Always allow the cookware to come to room temperature before washing. Sudden changes in temperature can cause ceramic coatings to crack. Once cooled, follow these steps:</p><ol><li>Fill a sink with warm water and about 1/2 teaspoon of a dishwashing liquid like <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=35871X943606&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bjs.com%2Fproduct%2Fdawn-platinum-refreshing-rain-dishwashing-liquid-dish-soap-2-pk40-fl-oz%2F3000000000001177092&amp;xcust=1590509316939asloc5bvy|xid:fr1590509319680hci19680hci" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Dawn Platinum</a>, which contains a degreaser.</li><li>Add the ceramic cookware and use a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FDU05A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B007FDU05A&amp;linkId=8699f6b970154667b5ab8f18a46d0ef270154667b5ab8f18a46d0ef2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">soft, microfiber dishcloth</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y11F7DG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B06Y11F7DG&amp;linkId=bf74eea9c2d448b5c9fef5e6c840d14dc2d448b5c9fef5e6c840d14d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">sponge</a> to clean the interior surface. Never use an abrasive nylon or metal scouring pad on ceramic coatings. They cause tiny scratches and can damage the non-stick quality of the ceramic coating.</li><li>Rinse the cookware in warm water and dry with a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NS654PC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07NS654PC&amp;linkId=36b86d4846e3a2317515f5847bf17fd446e3a2317515f5847bf17fd4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">microfiber dishtowel.</a></li></ol><h2><strong>Steps to remove stuck-on food and discoloration from ceramic cookware</strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GRK9XK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B071GRK9XK&amp;linkId=c7514cc27036ff2e1c8dc8b5f26e570d7036ff2e1c8dc8b5f26e570d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored"><div type="image" title="Ceramic Cookware Lead" height="900" width="1200" msid="76075364" hostid="261"></div></a></h2><p>No chef is perfect and sometimes food burns, and even with a ceramic coating, it can stick to the pan. To prevent damage to the ceramic finish, you must use a gentle abrasive and a light touch to remove the mess. Follow these steps:</p><ol><li>After the pan has reached room temperature, submerge it in a solution of warm, soapy water to soak for at least 30 minutes.</li><li>After 30 minutes, dip a damp sponge into a bit of dry <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VRXPY3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B073VRXPY3&amp;linkId=02eda07b4c0d170e967cff17204a6f9c4c0d170e967cff17204a6f9c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">baking soda</a> and use it to gently scrub away any burned-on bits that remain on the ceramic coating. If there is food on the outside of the pan, dip the sponge in <keyword id="6360038" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="baking">baking</keyword> soda again and scrub away.</li><li>If the initial soak and baking soda scrub did not lift away the burned-on food, sprinkle the area with burned-on food heavily with dry baking soda. Add one tablespoon of hot water (add a bit more water for a large area). Allow the baking soda mixture to sit for an additional 30 minutes. Scrub with a sponge in a circular motion.</li><li>Rinse the pan in warm water. Repeat the baking soda scrub if needed. Finally, dry the clean pan with a microfiber cloth.</li><li>If your ceramic cookware has become discolored after lots of use, the finish can be lightened by using <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LH1LG3U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01LH1LG3U&amp;linkId=49c7727b6409c58bb2f166d18acd08846409c58bb2f166d18acd0884" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">hydrogen peroxide</a>. Fresh hydrogen peroxide (it should bubble when you pour it in) has a gentle bleaching action. Pour enough three-percent hydrogen peroxide into the pan to completely cover the bottom. Let the solution work for 30 minutes and then rinse out the pan well and dry.  Repeat if needed.</li></ol><h2><strong>Tips to keep your ceramic pans in top condition</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005D6G5FK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B005D6G5FK&amp;linkId=7caa7bd83dc43c604d57fb7dc9f519c63dc43c604d57fb7dc9f519c6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored"><strong><div type="image" title="Ceramic cookware 2" height="900" width="1200" msid="76075367" hostid="261"></div></strong></a></p><ul><li>New ceramic cookware should be washed before using to remove any ceramic dust particles that remain on the surface after manufacturing.</li><li>Never use metallic utensils while cooking. Choose <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005D6G5FK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B005D6G5FK&amp;linkId=7caa7bd83dc43c604d57fb7dc9f519c63dc43c604d57fb7dc9f519c6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">plastic</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DH8JFS9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07DH8JFS9&amp;linkId=e3f067fdceff1e13f5d2d607d8b77719ceff1e13f5d2d607d8b77719" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">silicone</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008H2JLP8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B008H2JLP8&amp;linkId=38a947abae7a8784f6e1a8c79bc51f15ae7a8784f6e1a8c79bc51f15" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">wooden</a> spoons and spatulas to prevent scratching the ceramic surface.</li><li>Never cut foods with a knife in a ceramic-coated pan to prevent scratches and gouges.</li><li>Use oil or butter when cooking instead of cooking sprays. Sprays can leave a residue that builds-up and is difficult to remove. Some sprays even contain ingredients that are too harsh for ceramic finishes.</li><li>Avoid extremely high temperatures when cooking that may damage some ceramic coating.</li><li>Always use a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JJPYSRD/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_052620_how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07JJPYSRD&amp;linkId=234be6a70ae65ce305acc1094575f4740ae65ce305acc1094575f474" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">padded protector</a> between pieces when stacking ceramic cookware to prevent scratching.</li><li>Older ceramic coated cookware will begin to show wear from tiny scratches. Avoid cooking anything highly acidic or using lemon juice or vinegar to clean the pans. The high acid content of these products can cause the ceramic finish to deteriorate more quickly.</li></ul>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-clean-ceramic-cookware">Business Insider</a>

How to clean ceramic cookware

<p class="financial-disclaimer"><i>When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a></i></p><p><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=madeincookware.com%2Fproducts%2Fnon-stick-frying-pan%3Fvariant%3D44269340042D44269340042" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored"></a></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>With <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2F&amp;afftrack=2F&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Made In</a>, you get all the quality of high-performance, premium <keyword id="418044" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cookware">cookware</keyword> at a fraction of the traditional cost. </strong></li><li><strong>I tried the company's nonstick frying pan and after <keyword id="27178" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking">cooking</keyword> a variety of dishes with it, I was impressed. </strong></li><li><strong>It's now my go-to pan to cook with because of its versatility, even heat distribution, and durability. </strong></li></ul><p>Cooking is an art, oftentimes guided by intuition and creativity, but like any self-respecting painter or sculptor, a good cook wouldn't be caught without the proper equipment and technique. Cooking is as much an art as it is a science, and precision comes down to two key elements: heat and surfaces. </p><p>Good cookware handles heat with ease and provides the foundation upon which great textures and flavors take form, but not too many home cooks can say this is their experience with the pots and pans they use regularly. I've spent more time soaking and furiously scrubbing a pan than eating the meal itself — and I'm talking about a simple egg dish. Don't get me started on the horrors of a more involved meal. </p><p>We all deserve to be using better pots and pans that work for us, not against us, cookware that yields tastier <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Food">food</keyword>, and less clean-up. While I've considered investing in premium cookware, sometimes the prices are truly just out of reach for me at my current financial level and I can't splurge.</p><p><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2F&amp;afftrack=2F&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Made In</a>, a direct-to-consumer <keyword id="27180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kitchen">kitchen</keyword> brand, provides the perfect solution for amateur cooks like myself who want to take their cooking to the next level without overspending. </p><p>The premium cookware is made in the USA by workers with more than 150 years of cumulative experience in the industry. The company is so confident in the quality of its cookware that it even offers a 100-day trial and lifetime warranty on its products. </p><p>I tested its <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fnon%2Dstick%2Dfrying%2Dpan%3Fvariant%3D44269340234&amp;afftrack=34&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">10-inch nonstick fry pan</a> in my own kitchen, and it's now the most-used and most-loved pan in my apartment, by far, for a few key reasons.</p><h2>Made In's frying pan stays true to its nonstick claim without using harmful chemicals — and it's a dream to cook with and clean </h2><p>It's free of PFOA, a chemical typically used to make nonstick coatings. Instead, it uses FDA-approved PTFE to achieve its nonstick surface.</p><p>I use oil or butter to cook with, but you don't have to use either with this pan. It handles ingredients of all types, from meat and fish to vegetables and sauces, with no sticking, burning, or residue. My roommate who cooks often attests that "flipping eggs has never been so painless, which makes it great for even those new to the kitchen."</p><p>The pan also takes less than a minute to clean, cutting down dishwashing time significantly. </p><h2>It's versatile, built to last, and distributes heat evenly </h2><p>Made In's cookware is composed of five layers of bonded stainless steel and aluminum. It's heat resistant up to 500 degrees and is also dishwasher-, oven-, and induction top-safe.</p><p>You can't go wrong with a good stainless steel fry pan in your kitchen. Stainless steel is lightweight, much easier to clean than cast iron, and won't impart the flavors of past meals that you've cooked. With proper heat management (it's recommended to cook on low to medium heat), your pans will be in good shape for years to come. </p><p>The particular pan I tried is also available in 8- and 12-inch versions, so you can size up or down depending on how many people you're feeding. </p><h2>The price is accessible compared to other brands of similar construction and quality </h2><p>A 10-inch All-Clad stainless steel nonstick fry pan, which shares virtually all the same characteristics as Made In's, retails at $130. Made In's model is only $79. That's $50 you can spend on more <keyword id="1232606" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="kitchen-tools">kitchen tools</keyword> or specialty ingredients. Your dollar goes a lot farther for the same quality. </p><h2>The bottom line</h2><p><div type="image" title="all cookware" height="600" width="800" msid="76047914" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Made In is one of the few brands we've seen that provides an accessible foray into premium cooking and isn't pretentious about it either. </p><p>We've tested most of Made In's pots and pans, which you can read <keyword id="52147" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="reviews">reviews</keyword> of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/made-in-cookware-overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>, and if you don't know where to start, you can always take its <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fpages%2Fbuild%2Dyour%2Dkitchen&amp;afftrack=en&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Build Your Kitchen Quiz</a> to discover which cookware is best for you and your needs. The company also sells <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fstainless%2Dsteel%2Dfrying%2Dpan%3Fvariant%3D44266864138&amp;afftrack=38&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">regular stainless steel frying pans</a>, <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fstainless%2Dsteel%2Dsauce%2Dpan%3Fvariant%3D44269318218&amp;afftrack=18&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">sauce pans</a>, <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fstainless%2Dsteel%2Dsaute%2Dpan%3Fvariant%3D47697662858&amp;afftrack=58&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">saute pans</a>, and <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fstainless%2Dsteel%2Dstock%2Dpots%3Fvariant%3D48003943626&amp;afftrack=26&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">stock pots</a>.</p><p>If you're looking to update more than one piece, their <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1108190&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=74508&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fmadeincookware%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fkit%2D5%2Dsta%2Dna&amp;afftrack=na&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">bundled kits</a> are worth looking into and will save you some more money. </p>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/made-in-cookware-frying-pan-review">Business Insider</a>

Made In's frying pan is the most-used pan in my kitchen because it's versatile and durable — it also costs less than $100

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Steve Dipaola/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">A woman drinks from a water bottle in Portland, Oregon.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Massachusetts recently issued a public health warning about chemicals called <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toxic-chemicals-in-food-pfas-found-by-fda-2019-6">PFAS</a> found in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arsenic-bottled-water-whole-foods-dr-pepper-2019-6">brands of bottled water</a> sold at Whole Foods and CVS in the state.</li><li>The "forever chemicals" have been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-pfas-chemicals-2018-8">associated with cancer</a>, liver damage, and developmental issues.</li><li>An environmental group has uncovered PFAS at <span>more than 700 sites - including public water systems, military bases, and industrial plants</span> - across the US.</li><li>On July 2, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health told p<span><span>regnant or breastfeeding women to avoid drinking the bottled water "</span></span>out of an abundance of caution."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more.</a></li></ul><p>Bottled water is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/erin-brockovich-contaminated-water-warning-pfas-chemicals-2018-12">often considered the safest choice</a> for avoiding<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-tap-water-contaminated-unsafe-2019-5"> drinking-water contaminants</a> like arsenic and lead, but a recent spate of investigations has found that not all of it is free of potentially toxic chemicals. </p><p><span>In June, testing from the Center for Environmental Health <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arsenic-bottled-water-whole-foods-dr-pepper-2019-6">found "high levels" of arsenic</a> in bottled water brands owned by Whole Foods and Keurig Dr Pepper. Their findings confirmed earlier research from Consumer Reports, which found levels of arsenic that exceeded the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/chemical-metals-natural-toxins-pesticides-guidance-documents-regulations/supporting-document-action-level-arsenic-apple-juice">allowable limit</a> set by the FDA.</span></p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-drinking-water-cancer-chemicals-study-2019-4">California's contaminated drinking water could lead to nearly 15,500 cancer cases over the course of a lifetime. Here's how worried you should be.</a></em></p><p><span>Now, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is <a href="https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/07/08/spring-hill-advisory-july-2-2019_0.pdf">warning about the presence</a> of another chemical, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in bottled water sold at Whole Foods and CVS locations in the state. </span></p><p>PFAS became popular in the United States around the 1940s, when manufacturing companies realized the chemicals could resist heat, grease, stains, and water.</p><p>Though many PFAS have been phased out of the manufacturing industry, they still lurk in drinking water and consumer goods such as food packaging, carpets, leather, textiles, and non-stick cookware. In addition to their<span> </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855507/">ties to cancer</a>, PFAS are associated with liver damage and developmental issues.</p><p>Since PFAS rarely break down in the environment, they can linger in water and air for thousands of years, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-pfas-chemicals-2018-8">landing them the nickname</a> "forever chemicals." Consuming or inhaling them means they could stay in the body for life.</p><h2>Massachusetts told pregnant women not to drink the bottled water '<span>out of an abundance of caution'</span></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">A discarded water bottle at Warminster community park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>On July 2, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health <a href="http://springhillwater.com/history/">released an advisory</a> about bottled water sourced from Spring Hill Farm Dairy, a local distributor that bills its water as "so <span>pure you can see the difference."</span></p><p><span>The department warned that "certain bottled water products" from Spring Hill contained levels of PFAS that might be a health risk to pregnant or breastfeeding women and bottle-fed infants. The products in question contained the word "spring" on the label and included 365 Spring Water (sold at Whole Foods) and Ice Canyon Spring Water (sold at CVS). </span></p><p><span>The department said it issued the warning "out of an abundance of caution," since the levels of PFAS did not exceed the safety threshold set by Massachusetts or the EPA. </span></p><p><span>Spring Hill did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment, but the company has agreed to adopt a new filtration system to remove PFAS by</span><span> July 24. </span></p><p><span>CVS said in a statement that it has</span> halted shipments of Ice Canyon <span>Spring Water </span>and switched to suppliers "who have not identified any PFAS issues." The company said it is committed to ensuring that its products are safe and will offer a full refund to customers. Whole Foods <span>did not immediately respond to request for comment.</span></p><h2>There's still reason to be concerned about PFAS in bottled water - and other drinking sources across the US</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Matt Rourke</span></p><p class="caption">Lauren Woehr hands her 16-month-old daughter Caroline a cup filled with bottled water at their home in Horsham, Pennsylvania. In Horsham and surrounding towns in eastern Pennsylvania, the foams once used routinely in firefighting training at military bases contained PFAS.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>As scientists continue to study the effects of PFAS, researchers have uncovered more evidence that the chemicals are leaching into water supplies across the country.</p><p>In July, the <span>watchdog Environmental Working Group (EWG)</span> <a href="https://www.ewg.org/release/pfas-map-update-new-data-show-712-contamination-sites-49-states">detected PFAS</a> at <span>100 new sites in the US, bringing their estimated total to more than 700 sites across 49 states. Many of these sites included public water systems, military bases, and industrial plants.</span></p><p><span>There are 5,000 varieties of PFAS, but the EPA has only established a health advisory for two types: PFOA and PFOS. </span>These chemicals represent "the most concerning" varieties of PFAS, said David Andrews, a senior scientist at the EWG.</p><p>Though pregnant women and young children are more <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/drinkingwaterhealthadvisories_pfoa_pfos_updated_5.31.16.pdf">sensitive to toxic chemicals</a>, the EPA's safety threshold provides "a margin of protection" for these vulnerable populations. </p><p><span>The more PFAS you consume, the more of a danger it could pose to your health.</span></p><p><span>"It took decades of study before we really understood how potent [PFAS] are," Andrews <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toxic-chemicals-in-food-pfas-found-by-fda-2019-6">told Business Insider</a> in June. "We have to give up the assumption that all of these chemicals are perfectly safe ... These chemicals are concerning and we should eliminate as much [exposure to them] as possible."</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/every-total-solar-eclipse-until-2040-video-2017-8">An animated map shows every total solar eclipse around the world until 2040</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

'Forever chemicals' have been found in bottled water brands sold at Whole Foods and CVS, and it's part of a larger contamination problem

<ul class="summary-list"><li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Whether you consider cooking a hobby or a chore, there are several types of cookware to choose from to suit your needs. </strong></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Many different cookware sets made from various materials are available, including stainless steel, nonstick aluminum, cast iron, and copper.</strong></li><li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZNCMBQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_091719_best-cookware-sets-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B006ZNCMBQ&amp;linkId=e2f434d1aa91fed45970c0b46e583db2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set</a> tops our list with its sturdy construction, excellent heat conductivity and retention, versatility, and easy maintenance.</strong></li></ul><p>Through years of making family meals, baking for friends, and experimenting with recipes, I've used different types of cookware. I like using certain types of pots and pans for specific purposes - nonstick aluminum for making omelets, stainless steel for boiling liquids and sautéing hash browns, and cast iron for searing steaks and stir-frying vegetables.</p><p>It's important to equip your kitchen with a cookware set that's built from material that serves your culinary needs. Below are a the options you will find:</p><h2>Stainless steel cookware</h2><p>Stainless steel is durable, versatile, and attractive. It's not only easy to use and clean but also nonreactive. However, stainless steel absorbs and transmits heat poorly, so it's often combined with a metal, like aluminum or copper, that has better thermal conductivity for quicker, more even heating. While aluminum and copper are reactive metals, when clad in stainless steel they do not react to or leach into foods. The two subsets of stainless steel cookware are:</p><ul><li><strong>Fully clad:</strong> The entire body of a piece is constructed of layers of aluminum and/or copper sandwiched between stainless steel layers so heat spreads well throughout the cookware. For more information, check out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-fully-clad-stainless-steel-cookware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our guide to fully clad stainless steel cookware</a>. </li><li><strong>Bottom-clad:</strong> The base is an aluminum or copper disc encased in stainless steel, which spreads heat well across the bottom. The stainless steel sides conduct heat poorly though.</li></ul><h2>Nonstick hard-anodized aluminum cookware</h2><p>As described in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cookware-hard-anodized" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our guide</a> on this type of cookware, hard-anodizing is "a way of hardening a soft aluminum surface electrochemically so it becomes twice as hard as stainless steel and has an oxidized layer" that's nonreactive to acidic food. This cooking surface is also resistant to scratching, corrosion, and most conveniently, sticking, making it easy to clean. Hard-anodized aluminum is a nontoxic alternative to nonstick coatings possibly containing <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PTFE</a> (polytetrafluoroethylene, a manmade chemical known as Teflon) or <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PFOA</a> (perfluorooctanoic acid, another manmade chemical used in making Teflon).</p><p>This cookware's pluses are that you need little to no oil when cooking, and <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews/house-garden/a656797/how-to-buy-the-best-pots-and-pans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Good Housekeeping notes</a> that it is fairly lightweight and heats up up quickly so hot spots are less likely. The downsides to this cookware are its cost, incompatibility with induction stove tops, and need to hand wash.</p><h2>Cast iron cookware</h2><p>Like wine, this tough cookware ages well. As describes by <a href="https://www.americastestkitchen.com/guides/cook-it-in-cast-iron/benefits-of-cast-iron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America's Test Kitchen</a>, "a cast iron pan is possibly the only piece of kitchen gear you can buy that noticeably improves after years of heavy use. As you cook in it, a cast iron pan gradually develops a natural, slick patina, called seasoning, which releases food easily. A well-seasoned cast iron skillet can become just as nonstick as an aluminum or stainless steel pan and will definitely outlast them."</p><p>This metal heats slowly and not very evenly. Nonetheless, it retains heats well, reaches and withstands extremely high temperatures, and can go from stove top to oven and back for different culinary modalities. Cast iron cookware is relatively economical, versatile, great for searing, and usually comes preseasoned or enameled with a smooth porcelain surface. The downsides are that it's heavy and requires regular but simple maintenance - you need to hand wash and dry as well as oil them after each use. For helpful hints, see "Use and Care Tips" below. You can also read our guides on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-clean-cast-iron-pan-skillet-cookware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to clean cast iron</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-season-cast-iron-pan-skillet-cookware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to season it</a>, as well as our top picks for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cast-iron-skillet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cast iron skillets</a>.</p><h2>Copper cookware</h2><p>Beautiful, efficient, and responsive to thermal changes, copper delivers rapid and uniform heating as well as precise temperature control. Since copper is relatively soft and reacts with acidic foods, you'll want copper cookware that's lined with a harder, stronger, and nonreactive metal like stainless steel. Although superb in appearance and performance, copper cookware is expensive and a bit high-maintenance, requiring hand washing and drying and then regular polishing to preserve its luxurious sheen. For more information, check out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-copper-cookware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our copper cookware guide</a>.</p><p>In addition to trying all different types of cookware, I consulted culinary equipment sites that specifically focus on and test cooking equipment. I also interviewed a former prep cook to learn about cookware construction and materials as well as recommendations for top brands of cookware sets.</p><h2>Here are the best cookware sets you can buy:</h2><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Best cookware set overall: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZNCMBQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_091719_best-cookware-sets-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B006ZNCMBQ&amp;linkId=e2f434d1aa91fed45970c0b46e583db2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set</strong></a></li><li><strong>Best budget cookware set: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TIN0GW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_091719_best-cookware-sets-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B007TIN0GW&amp;linkId=82ff1458431d1d4a521c205f8632eed8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cook N Home 12-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set</strong></a></li><li><strong>Best nonstick cookware set: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DE1CIRA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_091719_best-cookware-sets-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B00DE1CIRA&amp;linkId=9d84eab6a6cda56c11c174df4cc779e8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set</strong></a></li><li><strong>Best cast iron cookware set: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QM8SLG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_091719_best-cookware-sets-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B004QM8SLG&amp;linkId=cb450f5f78a89190fecc6ad5c255af63" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lodge Preseasoned Cast Iron 5-Piece Cookware Set</strong></a></li><li><strong>Best copper cookware set: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014X01E66/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_091719_best-cookware-sets-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B014X01E66&amp;linkId=0f20090c753c7b3ffb86d753054e682b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lagostina Martellata Hammered Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set</strong></a></li></ul><p class="tagline"><p><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

The best cookware sets you can buy

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/toxic-chemicals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely regulates the cosmetics industry</a>: just 11 ingredients are forbidden in cosmetic products in the US. In Europe, more than 1,300 compounds are barred. </li><li>The retail chain Claire's came under fire last week after asbestos, a known <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancer causer</a>, was found in eye shadow and foundation sold there. </li><li>But experts say the Claire's discovery is part a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">larger issue</a>: the US beauty industry is not subject to many rules, and some of the ingredients makeup-makers use could make people sick. </li></ul><p>Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah used to love shopping at Sephora. She bought so much makeup, she said, that she even got "little random gifts" with her purchases.</p><p>"I had drawers full of makeup, all sorts of makeup," Mahalingaiah told Business Insider.</p><p>But today, she no longer sets foot in the store. Ever since she started studying the health effects that chemicals in cosmetics can have on people, Mahalingaiah - a<span> gynecologist at Boston Medical Center - </span>has paired her former beauty routine way down. </p><p><span>"Cosmetic molecules used in the shine or luminescence are often derivatives of PFAS and PFOAs," Mahalingaiah said. </span></p><p><span>These chemicals are endocrine disruptors, which mans they can subtly change how our bodies work by shifting the way our hormones operate. Such h</span><span>ormone disruptors have been linked to metabolism issues, low <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sperm counts</a> in men, and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/96/6/1747/2834301" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early menopause</a> in women. They can also do long-term damage to a developing fetus, subtly reducing a baby's brain power and upping the odds of a premature birth.</span></p><p><span>PFAS chemicals are not the only problematic ingredients in makeup: </span>Asbestos, a known cancer-causer, was <a href="https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm632736.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found in Claire's eye shadows and face powder</a> last week.</p><p>"It wasn't surprising to me, because there's no regulation," <span>Mahalingaiah said. </span></p><p><span>The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use the three Claire's products that tested positive for asbestos, but the agency has said it "does not have authority to mandate a recall."</span></p><p><span>On Tuesday, however, outgoing FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that Claire's is complying with the FDA's voluntary recall request. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></span></p><p><span>But Leo Trasande, a public-health expert from NYU's Langone Health network, thinks the FDA could do a lot more to communicate the health risks of cosmetics to the public and test for dangerous compounds in makeup products.</span></p><p><span>"This is quite late in the game for FDA to rush out and insist that this is a problem," Trasande, who recently <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42202336-sicker-fatter-poorer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote a book</a> on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, told Business Insider.  </span><span>"They've known that this is a problem for some time. </span><span>There is no level of asbestos that is safe." </span></p><h2><span>The US hasn't enacted new cosmetics regulation in over 80 years</span></h2><p><span>The US law that regulates cosmetics - the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act - hasn't changed since it was enacted in 1938. While Europe has banned over 1,300 chemicals from the products for sale there, the US <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidanceregulation/lawsregulations/ucm127406.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forbids just 11</a>. </span><span>Congress wrote drafts of new cosmetic rules in <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/2359/all-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011</a> and <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6903/all-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018</a>, but neither set was enacted. </span><span></span></p><p><span>Today, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are once again discussing the potential health risks from products we're putting on our lips, eyes, and bodies. </span></p><p><span>"Cosmetics have largely fallen into a regulatory black hole," Scott Faber, the senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, said in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoBEfjsFmZg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sworn testimony</a> before the House <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/legislation/hearings/examining-the-public-health-risks-of-carcinogens-in-consumer-products" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy</a> on Tuesday. "Cosmetics manufacturers do not have to register with FDA, do not have to report ingredients, do not have to report adverse events."</span></p><p><span>This is different from how the FDA treats drugs, medical devices, and food. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>The lack of regulation essentially means that manufacturers of makeup, shampoo, lotion, and other personal-care products in the US can put almost anything they want into those items, including compounds known to raise cancer risk, like <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/coal-tar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coal tar</a>, <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-fact-sheet#r2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">formaldehyde</a>, and <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/potentialcontaminants/ucm388820.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead</a>. </span></p><p><span>To make matters murkier, producers are permitted to label their products with ingredients like "fragrance" or "parfum" instead of disclosing the specific chemicals that make up those elements of a product, since those formulations are considered trade secrets. So fragranced beauty products could easily contain a toxic compound without consumers ever knowing. </span></p><h2>How much toxin is too much?</h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></span></p><p>Because cosmetics are designed to make people attractive to others, they often mimic one of nature's best-known phenomena: the glow women get when pregnant.</p><p>"Thick eyelashes, thick eyebrows, flushed cheeks, big lips, all of this happens under the effects of estrogen," <span>Mahalingaiah said, adding, </span>"it might be the effect a person putting on the makeup might want, but through a pathway that's maybe not the healthiest." </p><p><span>Scientists know that exposure to asbestos raises a person's cancer risk, but the effects of the hormone-disrupting chemicals that can be found in makeup aren't as clear. </span>Researchers are still trying to figure out, for example, how compounds in anti-aging products bind to the estrogen receptors in our bodies. But there are signs that women who use more cosmetics may see <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27545020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health consequences like early menopause,</a> more <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1600-0757.2011.00407.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hot flashes</a>, painful cases of <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es204415a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endometriosis</a>, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651313002273" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long-term damage to their DNA</a>, which can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead to cancer</a>. </p><p><span>"Why do we always need to look fertile and pregnant?" Mahalingaiah asked. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>Research on endocrine disruptors also suggests that the chemicals could subtly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slow down people's metabolisms and contribute to chronic health issues like obesity and infertility</a>, even in small doses. This is true for people of all ages and sexes, including unborn babies.</span><span></span></p><p>Take phthalates, for example: the ingredients that keep products like shampoo fresh.</p><p>"Phthalates disrupt the function of the male sex hormone," <span>Mahalingaiah</span> said.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25743932" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26087406" target="_blank" rel="noopener">show</a> that men exposed to high concentrations of those chemicals in the womb can have lower testicular volume, less semen, and lower semen quality than other men. </p><h2>The best solution may be to simply use fewer products</h2><p><span>Mahalingaiah said she recently performed an at-home urine test on herself, and found elevated concentrations of parabens (one of the most common <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/By_the_way_doctor_Are_parabens_dangerous" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estrogen-influencing</a> ingredients in beauty products) in her body. She also found the sunscreen ingredient <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Benzophenone-3_FactSheet.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">benzophenone-3 (BP-3)</a>, which can mess with the way hormones typically function.  </span></p><p><span>To the dismay of her three young daughters, Mahalingaiah said she threw away her 100-shade eyeshadow palettes, since</span><span> <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/EM/c8em00368h#!divAbstract">PFAS chemicals</a> are often used to make those cosmetics shimmer.</span></p><p><span>Mahalingaiah now recommends that any step in a person's beauty routine that isn't obviously beneficial to their health (like putting on sunscreen) should probably be re-examined. </span></p><p><span>"My piece of advice would be thinking about why [people] think they need a lot of makeup," she said. </span><span>"People are using makeup primers, and then base coats, and then these other coats, and then the spray that locks it all in.</span><span>"</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>Each additional product a person uses could raise the risk that their endocrine system gets disrupted, she said. Even so-called "natural" beauty products, which purport to have fewer fragrances and plasticizers than others, can still masquerade as a healthier alternative with largely the same ingredients.</span></p><p><span>"How much <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> do you need, when there are known carcinogens or toxicants, to make a choice to reduce exposure?" Mahalingaiah asked. "How much data do you need?" </span></p><p><span>Still, she admits that she still falls for the shimmering, radiant formulations chemists have come up on occasion.</span></p><p><span>"I haven't thrown everything out," Mahalingaiah said. </span><span>"I just reduce the frequency of use." </span></p><p><span>Trasande said he, too, has made changes in his home because of his research findings - he has thrown out etched and scratched kitchen plastics, and he tries to circulate more fresh air through his home to clear out toxins. </span></p><p><span>Trasande suggests consumers vet their own personal care products through a database like <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWG's Skin Deep</a></span><span>. </span></p><p><span>Once you stop using endocrine-disrupting chemicals, studies suggest concentrations of them in your body can diminish quickly. A</span><span> <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.1510514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016 study</a> of 100 14- to 18-year-old girls showed that when they stopped using personal-care products with ingredients like phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and BP-3, their urine concentrations of those chemicals dropped 27-45% in just three days. </span></p><p><span>Mahalingaiah said it's important for consumers to think about how to reduce their exposure: "What do you really need? Can you do with less?" she asked.</span><span></span></p><p><span>Making do with fewer products, of course, will also save you some cash.</span></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">32 of the most dangerous things science has strongly linked to cancer</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">A toxic-chemicals expert is sounding the alarm about 4 cancer-linked chemicals that could be making us sicker and fatter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-vitamin-d-do-you-need-suntanning-isnt-necessary-2018-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">A Yale skin cancer expert says the popular notion that you need to soak up Vitamin D from the sun is a myth</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/does-baby-powder-cause-cancer-johnson-and-johnson-lawsuit-2018-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Johnson &amp; Johnson is being investigated by the SEC over fears its baby powder may cause cancer - here's how worried you should be</a></li></ul>

Asbestos has been found in Claire's eye shadow, highlighting a disturbing 'black hole' in beauty-product safety

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/herestanding/7256264144/">Flickr / HereStanding</a></span></p><p class="caption">Tap water in more than 30 communities across the country, from towns in Michigan to  North Carolina, is testing positive for dangerously high levels of PFAS.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>A class of industrially produced chemicals called PFAS are found in many products, including cosmetics, fire-retardant foams, and food packaging. </strong></li><li><strong>Almost everyone in the industrialized world has some of these so-called "forever chemicals" in their blood.</strong></li><li><strong>But scientific evidence suggests they may also be linked with cancer and other serious health issues.</strong></li><li><strong>More than 30 communities across the US have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/drinking-water">water sources</a> that are contaminated with dangerously high levels of PFAS chemicals. </strong></li></ul><p> </p><p>In the US, consumers usually assume that the water coming out of our taps has been thoroughly tested and is safe to drink.</p><p>But residents in more than <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html%20">30 communities</a> around the country have found out that's not the case.</p><p>In states including Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/02/21/newburgh-takes-first-step-in-suing-state-feds-over-water-contamination-268671">New York</a>, and North Carolina, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement">local water systems</a> have been contaminated with toxic chemicals <span>called PFAS, which stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.</span></p><p><span>This class of artificial lab-grown chemicals doesn't break down in the environment, and instead remains intact in water, air, and bodies for thousands of years, <a href="https://apnews.com/2ca497384f01401394f4fbdd7e9aeb1d">according to the Associated Press</a>. For that reason, they've </span>become known as "<a href="https://www.cleanwateraction.org/2018/08/02/breaking-down-forever-chemicals-%E2%80%93what-are-pfas">forever chemicals</a>."</p><p>PFAS can both be <a href="https://acwi.gov/acwi-minutes/acwi2016/slide_lib/08_kernen_2_23_17_pfas_final.pdf#page=12">attracted to and repelled by</a> water - two opposite tasks - which makes them a unique class of industrially useful chemicals. The compounds are found in everyday items like <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2018/03/07/is-teflon-in-your-cosmetics/#.W3MNQROPKi4">cosmetics</a>, non-stick pans, firefighting foams, and products such as Teflon and Scotchgard. PFAS can even <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/hoosick/docs/long_fact_sheet_12_18.pdf%20">turn up in some food packaging</a>, like pizza boxes and microwave-popcorn bags.</p><p>But PFAS concentrations can <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas">build up</a> quickly in the environment, and people or animals who consume too much of these chemicals can suffer potentially life-threatening consequences.</p><h2>What PFAS chemicals can do to your body</h2><p><span>One common way we come into contact with PFAS is when they end up in the water supply. <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/pfcs/history.html">Waste that's dumped</a> from chemical manufacturing plants can contaminate groundwater, or PFAS can enter <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/02/21/newburgh-takes-first-step-in-suing-state-feds-over-water-contamination-268671">lakes and other freshwater sources</a> after firefighting foam gets used.</span></p><p>In humans, the buildup of PFAS chemicals has been linked to a host of health conditions, including:</p><ul><li>low <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1408837/">birth rates</a></li><li><a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf">liver damage</a></li><li>high <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831917/">cholesterol</a></li><li>chronic <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/174/8/893/155305">kidney disease</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84875892899&amp;origin=inward&amp;txGid=844879ea1025c14294130641a08571ef">asthma</a></li><li><a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1001898/">attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder</a> (ADHD) and <a href="https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84856182161&amp;origin=inward&amp;txGid=5669c5a51fb731893718348e90b9d512">immunization resistance</a> in children</li><li>early <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29986037%20">menopause</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29777922#%20">colon ulcers</a></li></ul><p>The <span>International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both think PFAS may also <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfc/docs/pfas_clinician_fact_sheet_508.pdf#page=4">be cancer-causing</a>, since [people with higher-than-average exposures to the chemicals have increased rates of testicular and kidney cancers. But that link hasn't been demonstrated for sure.</span></p><p><span>According to the EPA, people shouldn't be exposed to a concentration of PFAS higher than 70 parts per trillion (ppt). But <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf">a draft report</a> from the US Department of Health and Human Services suggests that threshold may be far too high. Other states put the safe drinking threshold much lower when they test for the five most ubiquitous PFAS chemicals.</span></p><p><span>"If your water has been tested and the total sum of the five PFAS is more than 20 ppt, we recommend not using your water for drinking, food preparation, cooking, brushing teeth, preparing baby formula, or any other manner of ingestion," Vermont's state <a href="http://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water/perfluoroalkyl-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-drinking-water%20">health website</a> advises. The contaminated water shouldn't even be used to quench your garden, it says, because the PFAS could be absorbed into vegetables you eat.</span></p><h2><span>A cross-country water crisis</span></h2><p><span><a href="https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfass#tab-3">Eight big companies</a>, including 3M and DuPont, phased out the chemicals from their products and plants in 2015.</span></p><p><span>But much of the damage has already been done. </span><span>It can take upwards of <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfc/docs/pfas_clinician_fact_sheet_508.pdf">two to nine years</a> for concentrations of these chemicals in your body to be cut in half. Some just never go away.</span></p><p><span>3M, one of the first companies to use PFAS chemicals, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-20/3m-is-said-to-settle-minnesota-lawsuit-for-up-to-1-billion">settled an eight-year-long lawsuit</a> with the State of Minnesota earlier this year for $850 million. The state alleged the company knew it was dumping toxic chemicals into waters around the Twin Cities for decades, but hid and distorted the scientific evidence from regulators.</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Matt Rourke</span></p><p class="caption">Lauren Woehr hands her 16-month-old daughter Caroline a cup filled with bottled water at their home in Horsham, Pennsylvania, where levels of PFAS in the taps have been dangerously high.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>In July, Michigan declared a <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-80388_80397-474039--,00.html">state of emergency</a> in Kalamazoo County because PFAS levels in the water supplies in Parchment and Cooper Townships were <a href="https://www.parchment.org/june-23-party-for-the-kindleberger-park/">20 times higher</a> than what the EPA considers safe. That's one of <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-map-confirmedPFASsites_611932_7.pdf">34 spots across that state</a> where PFAS levels were shown to be too high. </p><p><span>Factory workers and people from the Mid-Ohio Valley have some of the <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf%20">highest PFAS exposure levels in the country</a>. </span></p><p><span>But everyone has at least some in their system. </span><span>Researchers from <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00260">Harvard estimated in 2016</a> that at least 6 million Americans - nearly 2% of the population - were drinking water with PFAS levels higher than what the EPA recommends.</span></p><p><span>As one study put it earlier this month in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29777922#">Environmental Research,</a> "although use in the US has been phased out, PFOA persists indefinitely in the environment, and is present in the serum of virtually all people in industrialized countries."</span></p><p><span>Plus, PFAS chemicals are still in use in other places around the world, and can be imported in many products, including carpets, coatings, rubbers, plastics, and fabrics.</span></p><h2><span>What you can do</span></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mario Tama/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Tap water in major cities is generally well tested. But if you're worried, check out the annual drinking water report.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>To hear directly from people whose drinking waters have been contaminated with PFAS, the EPA embarked on <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement">a cross-country listening tour this summer</a>. Agency representatives have stopped in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and North Carolina to learn about how to help local utilities manage and clean up toxic water. </p><p><span> At one such hearing in Warminster, Pennsylvania in July, water and sewer manager Tim Hagey told the <a href="https://apnews.com/2ca497384f01401394f4fbdd7e9aeb1d">Associated Press</a> that he used to assure people that drinking his town's water was worry-free. But no more. </span><span></span></p><p><span>"You all made me out to be a liar," Hagey reportedly told Environmental Protection Agency officials.</span></p><p><span>The most recent meeting was held Tuesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Matt Rourke</span></p><p class="caption">US Environmental Protection Agency officials at a meeting in Horsham, Pennsylvania last month. EPA testing between 2013 and 2015 found significant amounts of PFAS in public water supplies in 33 U.S. states, including here.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span>Scientists who study the concentrations of PFAS in our blood agree that it's almost impossible to avoid exposure to the toxic chemicals.</span></p><p><span>In the hopes of lowering PFAS concentrations, some cities have started using activated charcoal filtration systems and reverse osmosis. Others may shift where the municipal water is sourced from. </span></p><p><span>But it's hard to rid water of PFAS, and you can't boil the chemicals away. </span>Bottled water may not be any better, since it's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bottled-water-facts-science-healthy-2017-4">much less regulated</a> than tap water and <a href="http://www.secnav.navy.mil/eie/Documents/WhatToDoIfYouHaveBeenExposed.pdf">isn't required to be tested</a> for PFAS.</p><p><span>If you're worried about your own drinking water, you can check the EPA's <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/understanding_ccr.html">annual drinking-water report online</a> or look at an independent tap-water database from the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/#.Wk0SehNSyi6">Environmental Working Group</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/water-quality/water-filters-testing-treatment/home-water-treatment-system-selection">use an NSF/ANSI-approved filter</a> at home.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pipe-spewing-fish-blood-salmon-public-waters-2017-12">Shocking footage shows a pipe spewing blood into public waters - and it's totally legal</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

You Searched For "pfoa" and got 13 results

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