PTFE/Teflon Fumes from neighboring apartments

[Reliquaries]

Hi all!

I’m all set to adopt a 6 month old jenday conure next week - have done my research as a first time bird owner and have sufficiently bird proofed my home.

Unfortunately, I live in an apartment building. While I’m not worried about the noise, as most people work during the day here, I’ve been having recurring anxiety attacks over Teflon or other dangerous fumes from my neighbors apartments wafting over to mine. While nothing seems to come through my walls, sometimes the hallways will smell strongly of food or scented candles and it will waft under my door. I plan to cover the gap at the bottom of the door very well in order to minimize this.

Obviously we won’t hang out in the hallway, but I live in a one bedroom with limited places to put my bird cage and I’m worried about fumes from the neighboring apartments seeping into mine should the door sweeper be less than 100% effective.

Is there anything I can do to keep my baby safe other than making sure my door is well insulated and buying an air purifier? Am I being paranoid, or is it too dangerous and I should call off the adoption?

 

[LordTriggs]

many people live with birds in apartments so I wouldn't be too worried, the fumes will be more likely to vent out through windows in the neighboring apartments rather than make the journey to yours. I would double check your air purifier to make sure it doesn't emit Ozone

 

[Loz]

Agree with above! Living in an apartment myself, fortunately it hasn't posed an issue. You're going to great lengths to ensure your parrot is safe and that is the best you can do. If an air purifier will ease your anxiety, maybe it is worth the investment! Good luck with your baby

 

[LordTriggs]

also don't forget that all apartments that are up to code are designed to have air flowing away from the common areas with those having dedicated ventilation for fire safety. Minor cross contamination will still happen of course but it will be a negligible amount. Like Loz said to ease yourself do have a look at an air purifier just like I say make sure that you check that it does not emit Ozone as that is also bad

 

[Timneh]

Running an air purifier in your unit might help.

 

[SailBoat]

Fumes from neighboring apartments is an interesting occurrence! Per your statement: "Obviously we won’t hang out in the hallway, but I live in a one bedroom with limited places to put my bird cage and I’m worried about fumes from the neighboring apartments seeping into mine should the door sweeper be less than 100% effective"

Understanding that air is lazy and will not just flow as it wishes. Air 'travels' from one location to another as a result of either its source being under higher pressure and the location it is going to being under lower pressure.

In your case, if you have a window open or a fan vent on, this could create a lower pressure in your apartment, which could than cause air from the Hallway to enter your Apartment.

To assure that your Apartment always has cleaner air, you would want to use an air exchange unit that draws small amounts of air into it from outside and releases a smaller amount back outside. This would create a higher pressure in your Apartment greatly limiting any Hallway air from entering.

This technology is available for homes, but I am not sure if it is available for Apartments. In the mean time an air purifier is likely your best choice!

 

[Reliquaries]

Fumes from neighboring apartments is an interesting occurrence! Per your statement: "Obviously we won’t hang out in the hallway, but I live in a one bedroom with limited places to put my bird cage and I’m worried about fumes from the neighboring apartments seeping into mine should the door sweeper be less than 100% effective"

Understanding that air is lazy and will not just flow as it wishes. Air 'travels' from one location to another as a result of either its source being under higher pressure and the location it is going to being under lower pressure.

In your case, if you have a window open or a fan vent on, this could create a lower pressure in your apartment, which could than cause air from the Hallway to enter your Apartment.

To assure that your Apartment always has cleaner air, you would want to use an air exchange unit that draws small amounts of air into it from outside and releases a smaller amount back outside. This would create a higher pressure in your Apartment greatly limiting any Hallway air from entering.

This technology is available for homes, but I am not sure if it is available for Apartments. In the mean time an air purifier is likely your best choice!

Makes sense, unfortunately I don’t think it’s possible for me set something like that up. :/

I’ll get an air purifier but I’m wondering if maybe my place stil isn’t safe enough for her.

 

[SailBoat]

Fumes from neighboring apartments is an interesting occurrence! Per your statement: "Obviously we won’t hang out in the hallway, but I live in a one bedroom with limited places to put my bird cage and I’m worried about fumes from the neighboring apartments seeping into mine should the door sweeper be less than 100% effective"

Understanding that air is lazy and will not just flow as it wishes. Air 'travels' from one location to another as a result of either its source being under higher pressure and the location it is going to being under lower pressure.

In your case, if you have a window open or a fan vent on, this could create a lower pressure in your apartment, which could than cause air from the Hallway to enter your Apartment.

To assure that your Apartment always has cleaner air, you would want to use an air exchange unit that draws small amounts of air into it from outside and releases a smaller amount back outside. This would create a higher pressure in your Apartment greatly limiting any Hallway air from entering.

This technology is available for homes, but I am not sure if it is available for Apartments. In the mean time an air purifier is likely your best choice!

Makes sense, unfortunately I don’t think it’s possible for me set something like that up. :/

I’ll get an air purifier but I’m wondering if maybe my place stil isn’t safe enough for her.

Lets bring a moment of comfort to all of this!!!

Highly toxic chemicals are commonly fairly heavy and tend to fall-out of the air the further you are removed from the source! In addition, every time air has to make a turn, it loose its rate of flow and that effects its ability to care those more harmful things!

Long story short: Unless there is a direct passage from their kitchen into your Bird's room and that those chemicals are on-going (like someone smoking all-day) the heavy chemicals are not going to adversely effect your Parrot.

Example: The aroma of cooking can carry along ways from the source. But the grease falls out within 20' (6 meters). PTFE/Teflon Fumes are only given-off at high-temperatures as the surface breaks down, commonly near the end of whatever is being cooked!

In addition, not everyone uses PTFE/Teflon products!

I hope that this brings you some comfort!

 

[MonicaMc]

Not exactly birds - but also sensitive to air pollutants...


My S.O. lives in an apartment complex with doors to the outside. He also keeps fish and shrimp tanks.

In one month, his roommate put a *food* grade bag into the microwave. (just because it was fine to keep hot food in did not mean it was microwaveable safe) It killed off a lot of the shrimp... maybe a couple of weeks after that, the new neighbors bug bombed their home. One colony of expensive shrimp was wiped out - all except for one. (has since died) The others also suffered many losses... it's been several months and the colonies haven't recovered - population wise.

 

[Tro]

This is a interesting topic! I have always wondered about the neighborhs using PTFE especially in apartments with thinner walls. In some apartments I can even smell the neighbors dinner. I move a lot and things like this are always a concern when I first move into a new place. Thanks for asking this!