Non-stick coating chemical linked to thyroid disease

London, Jan 21 (ANI): Researchers from the University of Exeter have found a link between a chemical used to make non-stick coatings for saucepans and thyroid problems in adults.

To reach the conclusion, boffins tested the blood of 4,000 US adults between 1996 and 2006 for the presence of the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). From analyses they found that 25 per cent with the highest levels had twice the incidence of thyroid problems.

The study has been published in Environmental Health Perspectives, reports The Independent.

PFOA is thought to enter the body in the diet or as dust breathed in through the lungs.

Researchers said they had demonstrated an association but had not proved causality.

"Our results highlight the need for further research," they said. (ANI)