Teflon is generally a member of the PFAS family (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are largely laboratory-made chemicals.
Applying Raman imaging, the researchers set out to examine microplastics and nanoplastics in a Teflon coating at the molecular level using photon scattering.
They also applied algorithms to calculate how much of this coating could peel off and find its way into food. The study reportedly developed a molecular spectrum approach to directly visualize and identify Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics.
Dr Cheng Fang, a researcher at Newcastle University, said in a press release: “Given the fact that PFAS are a major concern, these Teflon microparticles in our food could be a health concern, so that it is necessary to investigate them because we don’t know much about these emerging substances.