I don't think it's bad to be concerned about these things. In fact, I avoid this and other stuff also. Eat organic food, etc. But, I try not to be fanatical about it. E.g., If I run out of my non-flouride toothpaste, I'll use some flouride toothpaste. When I eat at friends' houses, I don't ask them if their food is organic. :-) <div> <br></div><div>But, yeah, we're killing ourselves. And often corporations don't give a flip about anything other than profits.</div><div><br></div><div>But Teflon works for what we need. I don't snort it. And I do on rare occasions inhale real pipe or cigar smoke. Go figure. :-)</div> <div><br></div><div>-- </div><div><div>John Formsma, RPT<br></div><div>Blue Mountain, MS</div><div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 2:39 PM, Susan Kline <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:skline@peak.org" target="_blank">skline@peak.org</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><u></u> <div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> <font size="-1"><font face="Courier New, Courier, monospace"><big><big>Thanks, Douglas. <br> <br> However, the point about fluoride's presence in our water, and in pesticides, <br> and its harmful effects on iodine metabolism and thyroid are certainly well <br> taken. Bromine is even worse, and we're practically swimming in it. Perchlorate <br> and chlorinated water seem to be everywhere, too. <br> <br> The trouble with halides like these is that they displace iodine in the places <br> it must be. The most problematic is thyroid, but many other parts of the body also have <br> iodine receptors. If there isn't enough iodine, the thyroid makes hormone using <br> other halides. These test "normal" but they are non-functional. So people's <br> doctors say "your thyroid is perfectly normal" while patients say, "then why <br> am I showing so many low thyroid symptoms?" and the doctors say, "it's all in <br> your head." <br> <br> Best to avoid halides to the extent possible, and to do at least a small amount <br> of iodine supplementation. Some people have "Hashimoto's thyroiditis" which research <br> now finds is worsened by eating "type 1" dairy food. (Cows come in two flavors, <br> and type 1 -- Holsteins are type 1 -- is the "bad" type. Old European breeds, <br> Jerseys, and Guernseys are usually type 2. All goats are type 2.) Iodine supplements <br> sometimes make hashimotos worse. Lots to learn about, but some things to do are simple. <br> Get rid of the teflon cookware, filter your drinking water and shower water, <br> avoid chlorinated swimming pools (some places have saltwater swimming pools now), <br> and be aware of bromine sources. <br> <br> worrywart Susan </big></big> </font></font><br> <br> John Formsma wrote: <blockquote type="cite">Doug, <div><br> </div> <div>Good info, particularly from someone who is trained to know about this sort of thing. Thanks.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Yes, embarrassing when it's our own folks who propagate the misinformation. Intelligence is not a prerequisite for this line of work.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>I don't snort it either, and try to avoid the dust...like I try to avoid any dust. I certainly don't obsess over it. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>-- <br> <div>John Formsma, RPT<br> </div> <div>Blue Mountain, MS</div> </div> <div><br> <br> <div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 11:01 AM, Douglas Gregg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:classicpianodoc@gmail.com" target="_blank">classicpianodoc@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex">Joe,<br> I am not sure where you are finding your information on Teflon. As<br> long as you don't heat it (as in a fry pan) over 440 degrees F, it is<br> quite safe. Teflon is used extensively in medical implants because it<br> has bee shown to be completely non-reactive in the body.<br> <br> As a pathologist, I have never seen or heard of any cases of<br> inhalation pneumonitis resulting from Teflon powder inhalation.<br> <br> I did a Medline search just to see if there were any reports of<br> pneumonitis from the use or production of Teflon powder. I got zero<br> hits. Clearly, I am not recommending snorting Teflon powder, but in<br> normal daily use with reasonable care, it is safe.<br> <br> <b>The only hits on google are from this PTG forum. That is embarrassing.</b><br> <br> Douglas Gregg<br> Classic Piano Doc<br> Veterinary pathologist- retired<br> <br> Message: 5<br> Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:18:37 -0400<br> From: Joe Wiencek <<a href="mailto:joespiano@gmail.com" target="_blank">joespiano@gmail.com</a>><br> To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Teflon<br> Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:A1E33FFD-D1D2-45D5-AF19-9DBFF5521282@gmail.com" target="_blank">A1E33FFD-D1D2-45D5-AF19-9DBFF5521282@gmail.com</a>><br> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes<br> <br> I don't think you can bring up this subject enough. I don't believe<br> the manufacturer is the best source to trust on the safety of ANY<br> chemical or food product. It's not in their commercial interest. The<br> form that piano technicians use most, the microfine teflon powder, or<br> any fine powder for that matter can settle in the lungs and be<br> extremely difficult to remove.<br> <br> If you want to understand how fluoride became ubiquitous in dental<br> health and municipal water supplies all over, do a bit of research on<br> weapons manufacturers that had a very nasty and toxic by-product they<br> didn't know how to dispose of. But don't go to the ADA or mainstream<br> media for that info, because you won't find it there.<br> <br> Joe Wiencek<br> </blockquote> </div> <br> <br clear="all"> <div><br> </div> <br> </div> </blockquote> </div> </blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div><br> </div>