Researchers have established that a widely-used chemical used for making non-stick cookware is linked to thyroid disease.

For concluding this, a study was conducted on almost 4,000 people in the United State. The study found that people who had more PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid in their blood had two times more chances to be diagnosed with thyroid disease.

PFOA because of its properties of repelling heat, water, grease and stains, is widely used in industry. Its traces are found in water, air and soil also.

Researchers from the University of Exeter, who carried out the latest study, however stated that the study conducted till now ere insufficient and more was needed to establish whether the chemical was directly responsible for the cause of illness in humans.

Earlier findings on animals have established that high exposure to the chemical can have an impact on thyroid gland’s action.

Tamara Galloway, Professor of Ecotoxicology at Exeter, said after analyzing a data, “Our results highlight a real need for further research into the human health effects of low-level exposures to environmental chemicals like PFOA that are ubiquitous in the environment and in people’s homes. We need to know what they are doing.”