Silicone-Based Bakeware Releases Potential Toxic Compounds Into Food, Air

Silicone-based bakeware — popular for its non-stick properties and being easy to clean — releases potentially toxic compounds into food and into the air, a new study has found.

Researchers found that “siloxanes migrate into food and are emitted in the air when baking” in silicone-based bakeware, according to research published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

Existing research shows that siloxanes can be toxic: One 2024 study in the National Library of Medicine says the “toxicological effects of siloxanes, particularly D4, D5, and D6 included significant endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and liver toxicity.”  

However, the “heavy” siloxanes, D7-D16, are “understudied,” the research notes. In the silicone bakeware used for the study, “twenty-five cyclic siloxanes (D3-D27)” were found. 

“The study shows that use of these products is a source of human exposure to siloxanes,” the study says, adding that “children have a higher exposure level on a per-body-weight basis.”

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The longer the product is used, the less siloxane is released, the study found: “Repeated baking shows a steady decline in migration and emissions, suggesting depletion of siloxanes in the products over time.” 

Researchers concluded that “our results highlight the urgency of conducting toxicity studies on c-siloxanes to support risk assessment,” saying there are “potential health risks associated with the use of silicone-based bakeware.”