In just two or three minutes of preheating, your pan will give off fumes that can make you sick. Each time you use medium to high heat on an empty pan, the surface on Teflon-coated and other nonstick cookware breaks apart and emits a toxic chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, according to the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C., organization that investigates issues of environmental health and safety.

Studies have shown that PFOA is present at low levels in 9 out of 10 Americans, and in the blood of most newborns. In one study, of 600 children tested, 96 percent had PFOA in their blood. Animal studies strongly suggest that when enough PFOA builds up in the body, it can cause cancer, liver damage, growth defects and immune-system damage.

For 50 years, DuPont, the manufacturer of Teflon, has said that its coatings do not emit hazardous chemicals through normal use. But recent DuPont studies, reported by the Environmental Working Group, show that at high temperatures (more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit) Teflon (and similar nonstick coatings) releases at least six toxic gases, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants and MFA (monofluoroacetic acid), a chemical lethal to humans at low doses. At temperatures that DuPont scientists say are reached on stovetop drip pans, nonstick coatings break down to a chemical-warfare agent known as PFIB, and a chemical analogue of the World War II nerve gas phosgene. The environmental group warns that the coatings break down at just 325 degrees Fahrenheit or at a medium flame.

As a result of this new data, the group has petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Commission to require that cookware and heated appliances having nonstick coatings carry a warning label. So far, the government has not assessed the safety of nonstick cookware and therefore there are no warning labels.In the meantime, a number of lawsuits against DuPont are pending. One of the latest suits comes from Miami, where attorneys hope to win compensation for “almost every American that has purchased a pot or pan coated with DuPont’s nonstick coating.”

DuPont was fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly hiding data for years on the toxicity of PFOA, and also for contaminating the Ohio River drinking-water supply near its West Virginia plant.Avian veterinarians have known for decades that Teflon off-gases are a leading cause of death among birds, and estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of birds are killed each year.

Like the canaries that were used in the coal mines, birds act as an early warning system for humans. The EPA recommends that bird owners avoid cookware and heated appliances with nonstick coatings completely. Perhaps everyone should be heeding this warning.

While you can choose whether or not to use Teflon pans, there is no way for you to tell if food containers and packaging contains PFOA. In one frightening example, the Food and Drug Administration has looked at microwavable popcorn packaging and found that PFOA is not only present but also that it gets into the oil from the packaging during heating.You may want to microwave your popcorn in a plain brown bag instead. DuPont also makes a Teflon silicone lubricant aerosol spray used to waterproof, protect and preserve rubber, plastic, vinyl, leather, metal and wood. One can only imagine how those particles are ending up in our lungs.In January 2006, DuPont agreed to an EPA plan to phase out PFOA by the year 2015.

In the meantime, start thinking about alternatives: Try switching to stainless steel — most chefs agree that it browns foods better than nonstick surfaces.

Cast iron is another great alternative to nonstick. It is extremely durable and can now be purchased seasoned and ready to use. There are also ceramic titanium and porcelain enameled cast iron. Both of these surfaces are very durable, better at browning foods than nonstick coatings, and are dishwasher safe.Anodized aluminum is another choice, but some people question its safety, citing evidence in some studies linking aluminum exposure to Alzheimer’s disease.

If you’re thinking about Calphalon, be aware that the nonstick coating used in Simply Calphalon cookware is not Teflon, but is made by ExxonMobil, and uses the same chemical compound as Teflon.

If you can’t bring yourself to toss out every Teflon-coated pan in your kitchen, at least manage your use of it carefully by making sure your kitchen is well ventilated and do the following: Never preheat on high; never leave nonstick pans unattended on an open flame or other heat source; don’t use metal utensils; wash by hand using nonabrasive cleaners and sponges (no steel wool); don’t stack pans; keep pet birds out of the kitchen.

At first, I must admit, I was resistant to giving up my nonstick omelet pan. Every time I tried making eggs in a stainless steel pan they would stick to the bottom. But I persisted, and after some playing around with the timing of preheating and using of a bit more butter or oil than I was used to, I discovered I could make the perfect omelet.

For more Information on Teflon and PFOA:– Is Teflon Chemical Toxic? EPA Seeks Answers, www.webmd.com/content/article/99/105222.htm– For cookware reviews: www.consumersearch.com/www/kitchen/cookware/fullstory.html– Information on the DuPont lawsuit: www.ewg.org/news/story.php?id=5264– Microwave popcorn and PFOA: pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2005/nov/science/rr_popcorn.html– For the most recent information from the Associated Press/USA Today regarding the DuPont class action lawsuit: stocks.usatoday.com/custom/usatoday-com/html-story.asp?guid=%7BCD3970B9%2DF081%2D4E8F%2D8519%2D64206A826F5E%7D– For information on Teflon polluting the Mississippi River, go to www.organicconsumers.org/rd-pfc.cfm

Many of us, in our zeal to make our homes a safe haven, take clean to an extreme. Each year, according to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the average American uses approximately 25 gallons of toxic and hazardous chemical products at home, much of which is eventually washed down the sink, flushed down the toilet or placed in a garbage can, potentially affecting the health of the people, plants, animals, land and water in and around our neighborhoods. The department contends that of the roughly 17,000 chemicals found in common household products, only 3 in 10 have been tested for their effects on human health.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is the agency responsible for the safety of consumers using thousands of products — from toys and cribs to power tools and household chemicals. The commission does not require manufacturers to test household cleaning products before they appear on store shelves, so much of the information consumers have about a product comes from its label. Labels are required to provide hazard symbols, such as “poison” and “flammable,” and must give information about first aid treatments for those ingredients.

But according to the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, a national nonprofit that educates the public on environmental toxins that affect children’s health, labels often omit inactive or inert ingredients that can make up as much as 90 percent of a product’s volume. These include solvents, dispersal agents, dyes and fragrances, some of which can pollute the air and water. Other ingredients can be suspected carcinogens or worsen long-term health problems such as allergies and asthma. Diethyl phthalate, commonly found in commercial cleaning products, is a known endocrine-disrupting chemical (which can interfere with normal growth and development). Toluene, a chemical found in some stain removers, has been classified by the EPA as a carcinogen — and studies have linked it to neurological problems and birth defects.Another thing to watch out for are aerosol sprays that contain flammable and nerve-damaging ingredients such as hexane and xylene.

Also, aerosol sprays produce mist particles that can contain a high proportion of organic solvents, according to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. It warns that these solvents can be inhaled into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. According to a 1999 study published in the weekly science and technology magazine New Scientist, in homes where aerosol sprays and air fresheners were used frequently, mothers experienced 25 percent more headaches and were 19 percent more likely to suffer from depression, and infants younger than 6 months old had 30 percent more ear infections and a 22 percent higher incidence of diarrhea.

Labels provide only limited information, but there are other ways to make sure you’re keeping your family safe from indoor pollutants. They include:

– Be wary of products that make cleaning too easy. If you don’t need to scrub at least a little bit, you should question why. These cleansers can emit fumes (even while stored) that can affect a home’s air quality.

– Air fresheners contain synthetic fragrances, or phthalates, chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive-system harm in rodents. Some groups cite evidence linking phthalates to the same problems in humans.

– While it shouldn’t be assumed that because an item is on the shelf it has been tested for safety, you also shouldn’t assume that if it says “natural” it’s safe. The word “natural” is undefined and unregulated by the government and can be applied to just about anything.

– Because no standards exist, claims like “eco-safe” and “environmentally friendly” are also meaningless, says the Consumers Union. Since only food and herbs can be certified organic, the word “organic” on the label of a dish or laundry soap doesn’t mean much.

– Most conventional dish and laundry detergents are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable synthetic resource, so look for naturally derived or plant-based formulas that are biodegradable and contain no phosphates.

– Fabric dryer sheets and potpourri that list “fragrance” on the label mean that synthetic (i.e., petroleum-based) chemicals were used, and they should be avoided.

– Choose “non-chlorine bleach” cleaning solutions and scouring powders. Fumes of cleansers containing a high concentration of chlorine can irritate the lungs, which is dangerous for those with asthma, emphysema or a heart condition. The risks are compounded when the cleansers are used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, such as the bathroom. Fragranced chlorine bleaches are even worse because the odor is disguised, which can lead to dangerous overexposure.

– If you use air fresheners, try using non-aerosol citrus sprays containing only citrus peel extracts, which are effective at dissolving airborne odors. Try an open box of baking soda to remove odors, or use sachets of dried flowers and herbs, or lavender essential oil, which will provide gentle scents.

– White vinegar, borax, salt, herbs, olive oil, cornstarch and lemon juice have been used as cleansers for decades and have proved to be effective and safer for humans, pets and the environment.

If all this seems overwhelming, think about just one “healthy” cleaning product you can buy today and commit yourself to buying it. This small, simple act could have a big effect on your family’s health.

Recipes to make environmentally safe cleansers from oven cleaners to mildew removers can be found online at: www.care2.com, www.almanac.com (hit the Food button, then scroll down to “Kitchen Tips and Tricks” and click on the “helpful advice and handy kitchen hints link”) and www.organizedhome.com.

Information about safe cleaning products can be found at: www.greenhome.com, www.checnet.org (Children’s Health Environmental Coalition), www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov and www.kidsorganics.com/Chemicals%20to%20Avoid.htm.

You can find environmentally safe products from Bon Ami, Ecover, Seventh Generation, BioShield, Earth Friendly and Greenwood Naturals (a lavender-based product developed by the Greenwood School in Mill Valley, CA and produced by EO). Natural products are available at online stores and Whole Foods, Molly Stone’s, Good Earth and Trader Joe’s.

Like paint, wall coverings cover more surface area than you may think and can harm the indoor air quality. Unknowingly, we often buy what we think looks good rather than what’s safe.

According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, VOCs are always emitted from those easy-to-clean wallpapers made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), referred to simply as “vinyl.”

One of the big debates raging within architecture and design circles is whether PVC is dangerous. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PVC is a human carcinogen considered to be so toxic that it is banned in some parts of Europe. The environmental organization Greenpeace says “it is the most dangerous of all plastics and its manufacture is linked to the production of chlorine to a degree unmatched by any other material.”

What makes chlorine so bad? Chlorine is found in thousands of chemicals that threaten the environment. It provides the “C” in deadly PCB, and it is the source of the “chloro” in ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbons. Further still, PVC releases toxic byproducts such as dioxin during its manufacture and if burned during disposal. Dioxin is considered by many scientists to be the deadliest chemical ever made.

If that’s not bad enough, if you use vinyl wallpaper in high-moisture areas in your home, it can create a vapor barrier that traps moisture in the wall and encourages mold growth.

“In general, we recommend against wallpaper of all kinds in humid areas like bathrooms and kitchens,” says John Dunnihoo, general manager of Healthy Home Plans in Marin. “These rooms should have a smooth, easily wiped down finish, because it seems like either the paper, the adhesive, or the lack of breathability of wallpaper in these areas inevitably leads to mold.”

And don’t be fooled by what some companies tout as “low-VOC.” These products meet EPA regulations, but because those regulations are based on ozone reduction, toxic chemicals such as tertiary butyl acetate and methyl formate that do not form ozone are excluded from the required VOC calculations.

There are natural alternatives to vinyl. Greenpeace recommends paper-based wallpaper, with recycled and biodegradable being the best choices. Other natural fibers to look for include linen, cotton, sisal (extracted from leaves of agave plants), cork (from bark of cork trees), grass cloth and cellulose (wood pulp).

Installation using traditional wallpaper paste is preferable to using self-stick wall coverings because of the high levels of VOC in the adhesive. In general, the smoother the surface, the cleaner it stays and the easier it is to clean. Paper coated with liquid acrylic (make sure you don’t get liquid vinyl) is wipeable; uncoated paper wallpaper wouldn’t be practical for a nursery or child’s room. A woven/rougher texture of wall covering requires more volume of adhesive to hold it to the wall, so a zero-VOC adhesive becomes doubly important. If you haven’t wallpapered before, your walls are uneven or both, you may want professional installation, and allow a few days for the room to air out afterward.

Dozens of companies make environmentally friendly wall coverings using nontoxic ingredients. Most of the following, as well as many more, will be showcased at the West Coast Green Conference and Expo 2 Sept. 28-30 at the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco (www.westcoastgreen.com):

– Innovations in Wallcoverings Inc. (www.innovationsusa.com) has a line of natural, renewable and recyclable materials that are biodegradable. They use water-based inks containing no heavy metals.

– Hollingsworth & Vose (www.hollingsworth-vose.com) has WallTek, a line of non-woven wall coverings containing no PVC or formaldehyde.

– Roos International (www.roosintl.com) offers Texturglas products that include a specially formulated adhesive called Ecofix, a starch-based powder adhesive made from regenerated, degradable materials, creating no VOC emissions.

– Wolf-Gordon Inc. (www.wolf-gordon.com) introduced an Ecological Reclamation Program with its new EarthSafe collection called Strata made of natural, renewable or recyclable materials and cellulose harvested from managed forests. At the end of the product’s life cycle, the wall coverings can be returned (for credit).

– DesignTex has EarthTex (www.dtex.com), a non-PVC wall covering without heavy metals or plasticizers (made from phthalates, that mimic natural hormones and are increasingly identified with health problems).

– MDC Wallcoverings (www.mdcwall.com) makes Natural Environments, which uses natural materials, including the dyes. Newcastle Fabrics (www.newcastlefabrics.com) has the South Seas collection which is natural. Cork wall tiles (www.naturalcork.com) are often used like wallpaper. Sinan Co. Environmental Products in Davis (www.sinanco.com) makes a plant-based wallpaper adhesive (389 Natural Wallpaper Adhesive).

Also, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration recently introduced a “Green California” site (www.green.ca.gov) that provides information on environmentally friendly products and services. And check out both the movie and the site called “Blue Vinyl” (www.bluevinyl.org) for information about PVC.