You were right to ask for a shield. I would do the same thing, and I'd be a little pissed that I had to ask.
However there's a big difference, in that the x-ray you got actually delivers a substantial amount of ionizing radiation-- up to one full percent of the average annual background dose. There is no evidence that even a lot of normal x-ray scans have any effect on health, but at least it's a physical possibility.
In contrast, the level of chemical hazard from nonstick cookware is a billionth or trillionth (or even smaller) than what's in the carpets we all grew up playing on, or the clothes we wear and furniture we sit on every day.
To use another analogy, worrying about nonstick cookware is like worrying about the ionizing radiation coming from a banana that's sitting uneaten across the room from you.
I agree about absestos, and I fee the same about lead as well. Those are nasty poisons that, contrary to popular lore, cannot be used and applied safely such that they won't eventually get loose and become a health hazard. I've been thinking about asbestos this week because I've been replacing ceiling light fixtures in my house, and it's impossible to do without causing the asbstos-filled popcorn texture to rain down like snow. It's fucking unbelievable what previous generations afflicted us with.
EDIT:
I feel compelled to repeat that common cooking fumes and smoke are known toxins and carcinogens. It makes no sense to be more concerned about tiny amounts of aerosolized PTFE than the far greater amounts of cooking smoke and fumes that will inevitably be emitted by your food at the same temperatures.
However there's a big difference, in that the x-ray you got actually delivers a substantial amount of ionizing radiation-- up to one full percent of the average annual background dose. There is no evidence that even a lot of normal x-ray scans have any effect on health, but at least it's a physical possibility.
In contrast, the level of chemical hazard from nonstick cookware is a billionth or trillionth (or even smaller) than what's in the carpets we all grew up playing on, or the clothes we wear and furniture we sit on every day.
To use another analogy, worrying about nonstick cookware is like worrying about the ionizing radiation coming from a banana that's sitting uneaten across the room from you.
I agree about absestos, and I fee the same about lead as well. Those are nasty poisons that, contrary to popular lore, cannot be used and applied safely such that they won't eventually get loose and become a health hazard. I've been thinking about asbestos this week because I've been replacing ceiling light fixtures in my house, and it's impossible to do without causing the asbstos-filled popcorn texture to rain down like snow. It's fucking unbelievable what previous generations afflicted us with.
EDIT:
I feel compelled to repeat that common cooking fumes and smoke are known toxins and carcinogens. It makes no sense to be more concerned about tiny amounts of aerosolized PTFE than the far greater amounts of cooking smoke and fumes that will inevitably be emitted by your food at the same temperatures.