Killer fumes

zarafia · Feb 14, 2008

I want to be sure that everyone knows about the danger of Teflon fumes. We can't see or smell them, but they WILL kill your bird. A young couple who had graduated together from an animal training college came to live and work at the big aviary I worked at. As part of their pay they bought a blue and gold baby on three feedings a day. One night they called me in the baby room in the main house from their apartment at the front of the property. They were frantic, their baby (now on two feedings a day) was in terrible respirtory distress. I ran up to their apartment to find them histerical and the baby dead. They said he suddenly started gasping and then couldn't breathe. I smelled something burning and they explained that the husband had burned some steak he was cooking. In their little apartment that was all it took to kill a perfectly healthy baby macaw. And these folks had gone to an animal school, yet they had never heard of teflon poisoning.
I am sorry to tell such a terrible story, but teflon is everywhere and after it has happened to you or someone you know you will be as parinoid as I am.
It has to overheat just a little to be leathal to birds.
Some places teflon is:
(Please add to this list as needed)
Pots and pans
Coffee makers
Irons
Hair dryers
Curling irons

MetroidGirl · Feb 14, 2008

if its got teflon in it, it has to say it on the package right? and is there non stick alternatives that are safe?

zarafia · Feb 14, 2008

I don't know if they have to disclose teflon as it is supposedly harmless to people. I wouldn't count on it. And there are many other "non-stick" brands and names that are just as dangerous as teflon. Stainless steel is safe.
I usually can identify it by the look of it. And I'm not saying that you should throw out all the non-stick coatings in your house (although I know people who have) just be aware of the danger. Unplug coffee pots and irons and other plug-in items that you know or suspect of having teflon. Never leave a pot or pan unattended.

TexDot33 · Feb 15, 2008

Another non-stick surface that is quite popular is in the George Foreman grills ... Christy and I have one that I use only outside on the deck ... you have to be really careful, that stuff is everywhere!

Alternatives for cook and bake wares include: Glass, silicon, stainless steel, copper, cast iron and earthen ware ... there are lots of ways to get around this ... and if anyone needs any hints please feel free to ask, as I love to cook and I create great meals for 2 (or 20) without the use of any non-stick (besides, I think butter adds a lot of great flavor to the food ~ A la Paula Dean).

MetroidGirl · Feb 15, 2008

i know this has nothing to do with Teflon, but just curious
is that powder thats used on carpets to clean them dangerous to the birds? i use the arm and hammer oder remover on my carpets where the cats are, just curious if that is bad for the bird?

Auggie's Dad · Feb 15, 2008

It depends on the powder, but most of them are dangerous. Anything that has airborne particles can be very dangerous.

While I am a STRONG believer of better safe then sorry, and also a supporter of erring on the side of caution I have seen many teflon reports which are overstated. Teflon is a brand name, and all teflon products are thus labeled, however the chemical polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) is used under other brand names in a wide variety of non-stick products. The only non stick cookware that does not use this is the silicon products and the outrageously expensive layered products (is it titanium??).

I had a couple teflon pans before getting Auggie and I have kept them. PTFE does not break down until it reaches a temperature far above the flash point of cooking oils - if there is oil in the pan and it hasn't burst into flames its not a problem. The problem comes when people forget and overheat or "preheat" pans. The only product I got rid of was my george forman grill as to use it properly it has to be preheated and dry heated, THIS is where the danger comes from.

Beware also of any aerosol cleaner and any airfresheners. I used to love those plugins airfresheners, but those are a thing of the past.

LightJak07 · May 24, 2008

I have looked all over my coffee maker and see no teflon, could it be hidden somewhere on it? I refuse to iron anything...I am a liberated woman. I replaced my teflon pans a year ago with stainless steel and love them. They aren't as non stick as people might think.
Since I lost my first bird, I am paranoid about the health of this one.

Auggie's Dad · May 24, 2008

With coffee makers the main place would be the hot plate under the carafe if there is one. Not sure why these should be non-stick.... nothing but a glass pot should be on it, but many of them are coated.

Personally I use a coffee press, love it.

LightJak07 · May 24, 2008

Mine is one of those Hamilton Beach dealies that you just stick your mug under and press it against the big button..I checked the hot plate and it appears to be metal. I much prefer this kind because I cannot break the carafe. I don't think I have to worry.

BuffaloParrot · May 24, 2008

Also on this list is self cleaning ovens. I heard of a couple that did a large (time consuming) turkey dinner & heated the teflon in this oven that killed all 3 of there Parrots. They at the time did not know teflon was in this type of oven!

TexDot33 · May 25, 2008

Yep, self-cleaning ovens are COATED with teflon ... there are so many ways that this stuff is with us, you can't ever be too cautious.

Tracy842 · May 29, 2008

Wish Teflon wasn't used in everything.

bdhamiltonmi · May 30, 2008

There are so many toxins and products that are dangerous to birds, check out
http://bdhamiltonmi.googlepages.com/commonhazardsandhouseholdtoxins it has a huge list of stuff that is dangerous

rockinseattle · Jun 4, 2008

Non stick begins to emit fumes as soon as it is heated. It was thought at one time that PTFE became dangerous only when over heated. It is now reported that temperatures as low as 285 degrees F can release PTFE fumes which can prove dangerous and fatal to our birds. In the case of cookware, a pan does not have to be burnt to emit PTFE fumes, or to become dangerous to our birds.[/

http://qp-society.com/qpserc/nonstck.html

Isn't it amazing how much crap companies can put on products and our foods without ever having to inform the buyers, such as nonstick, GM (genetically modified) foods, pesticides... ETC. ETC.

As a consumer I think it is my right to know what I am buying and what all is on/in it..

GCC · Oct 18, 2012

dude im freaking out!!!!!!!!!! I cant get new pans right now i literally just spent tons of money on them!!! I have a keurig. i sthat okay!! lord i havnt even got my bird and im stressing!!!!!!111

GCC · Oct 18, 2012

Omg i just looked on the list of toxins and my husband always clans his hunting gun, i love scented candles, we sometimes use bleach!!!! LORD HELP ME!

JerseyWendy · Oct 18, 2012

Take a deep breath GCC. Aren't you so glad you've seen the list NOW rather than have your baby home, something happens, and you have no idea why.

It's easy to adjust for the love of our birds.

As for your pans, just don't OVERHEAT them, that's all. No need to run out and get brand new cookware.

Birdlover11 · Oct 18, 2012

My mom lit a scented candle once, it was cucumber. I told my mom that scented candles can kill birds but she didn't care. She said its not her problem and I moved my parakeets cage to another room and I t stayed their for the whole night. Poor Pepsi and sprite

brianlinkles · Oct 18, 2012

I am curious about the oven thing. I have a self cleaning oven and have never used the cleaning setting with the birds in the house. However does this mean that I have to be careful of cooking in the oven above a certain temperature?

MollyGreenCheeks · Oct 18, 2012

zarafia said:
I want to be sure that everyone knows about the danger of Teflon fumes. We can't see or smell them, but they WILL kill your bird. A young couple who had graduated together from an animal training college came to live and work at the big aviary I worked at. As part of their pay they bought a blue and gold baby on three feedings a day. One night they called me in the baby room in the main house from their apartment at the front of the property. They were frantic, their baby (now on two feedings a day) was in terrible respirtory distress. I ran up to their apartment to find them histerical and the baby dead. They said he suddenly started gasping and then couldn't breathe. I smelled something burning and they explained that the husband had burned some steak he was cooking. In their little apartment that was all it took to kill a perfectly healthy baby macaw. And these folks had gone to an animal school, yet they had never heard of teflon poisoning.
I am sorry to tell such a terrible story, but teflon is everywhere and after it has happened to you or someone you know you will be as parinoid as I am.
It has to overheat just a little to be leathal to birds.
Some places teflon is:
(Please add to this list as needed)
Pots and pans
Coffee makers
Irons
Hair dryers
Curling irons

Add to the list:
George Foreman Grill and others like it
Cuisinart Griddles
Some old radiator style oil heaters
electric skillets
waffle makers

Another link with more:
Household products that may contain PTFE - Avian Avenue

Killer fumes

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