According to experts, if you are exposed to PFOA on a regular basis, you may be at a higher risk of developing certain cancers and an increased risk of developing tumors. The main areas for this to occur are the liver, testicles, breasts, and pancreas.
However, you should know that non-stick cookware is not a significant source of PFOA exposure, as the majority of this will be burned off during the manufacturing process. It will only be present in very small amounts, which means that the connection between cancer and tumor risks is not likely going to be the case for using grill mats.
Unfortunately, the long-term effects of PFOA and similar chemicals are largely unknown, and experts actually say that the risk of cancer and tumors due to PFOA only occur when there is a high amount of exposure. The majority of grill mats will be PFOA free, and so the major health risks that are associated with PFOA are no longer a cause for concern.