Kourtney Kardashian spreads COVID-19 mask conspiracy denounced by American Cancer Society

Kourtney Kardashian is getting called out for spreading misinformation about the health risks of blue surgical masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a post on her Instagram story, the reality star claimed the masks cause cancer and was slammed online. Now, the American Cancer Society has issued a refuting statement.

It all started on Halloween when Kourtney, 41, shared a note that “those blue masks mandated at grocery stores & airplanes are made of PTFE, a carcinogen made of synthetic fluoride.” PTFE is the chemical compound polytetrafluoroethylene, which can be found in nonstick properties like Teflon.

“According to Cancer.Org it increases the risk of liver, testicle, pancreas, kidney & breast tumors + ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, preeclampsia and high cholesterol,” read the note shared by Kourtney. “High exposure can cause influenza-like symptoms and hemorrhaging in the lungs, leading to suffocation.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wear face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The American Cancer Society was listed as the source of the information, but the message was condemned by a spokesperson for the organization on Tuesday.

“There is no evidence to support the claim that the presence of PTFE in a mask causes cancer,” Dr. William Cance, chief medical and scientific officer of the ACS, tells Yahoo Entertainment. “As a surgical oncologist, I, along with thousands of colleagues in the health-care profession, have been wearing masks for years to protect patients from the spread of infections.”

Social media hasn’t been a friendly place for the Kardashians as of late.

Kendall Jenner was recently slammed for throwing a Halloween party amid the pandemic as COVID-19 cases surge across the U.S. That came days after Kim Kardashian drew huge backlash for jetting off to a private island with her family and friends to celebrate her 40th birthday. However, Khloé Kardashian, who overcame her own COVID-19 diagnosis, defended the trip.

“This year is a frustrating year,” Khloé told Ellen DeGeneres. “I think there’s so many frustrations going on for everybody. But also, it’s her 40th and this is something she really wanted to do for us. It was such a nice thing!”

Kourtney, who attended both Kendall and Kim’s soirees, has yet to comment on the mask debacle.

For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC’s and WHO’s resource guides.

• What to do if you think you have the coronavirus

• What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

• Glossary of public health terms to stay informed

• The most common ways the coronavirus is transmitted

• How to maintain your physical and mental health during the pandemic

• Taking care of a loved one with COVID-19? Here’s how to stay healthy

• COVID-19 and pregnancy: What we know so far

• How to find a job, unemployment insurance

• Q&A with Dr. Kavita Patel: How to keep your family safe and maintain your mental health

• Opening and cleaning delivery packages

• Tips for grocery shopping

• How to deal with potentially contaminated money

• How to do your laundry safely

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