Need answer ASAP. Toxic cookware fumes?

[gbird]

The day after I brought Pita home, I threw out all my Teflon, and bought Stainless Steel Cookware.

[LunaRio]

I've heard the same thing, that it's supposedly ok as long as it's not overheated. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, BUT...there have been reports of peoples' birds dying even under normal use at regular temperatures. I prefer to err on the side of caution and not gamble my birds' lives on it.

[wildirish]

Here are some studies on PTFE's and Teflon:

New Findings About Teflon IMPORTANT!
Teflon Finds Itself in Sticky Situation


Teflon, a waxy, white powder, has become a staple in household kitchens everywhere. But this nonstick "treasure" may do more harm than good.

Accidentally invented by a DuPont chemist more than 65 years ago, Teflon has been raising some health concerns. A chemical used to produce it, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been appearing in people and animals worldwide. One study showed that in 23 states, 96 percent of the 598 children tested, had traces of the chemical in their blood.

Scientists are conducting studies to answer one plaguing question: "Is PFOA a risk to human health?"

Many studies have been conducted using animals, such as rats, to discover the answer. The studies raised concerns regarding:

* Children's health and development
* Risks of liver, pancreatic, testicular and mammary gland tumors
* Altered thyroid hormone regulation
* Damage to the immune system
* Reproductive problems and birth defects

Scientists have also been collecting blood samples from people who live near DuPont plants located in West Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota and Alabama. The team's goal is to analyze the samples and discover if there is a link between PFOA, hormone levels and liver function.

Where Does This Chemical Come From?

Some possible sources of origin include:

* Teflon manufacturing plants polluting the water and air
* Heating Teflon cookware to broiling temperatures and releasing the chemical into the air
* Vacuuming stain-resistant carpets and emitting chemical infected dust into the air
* Washing stain- or water-resistant clothing, sending chemical coatings down the drain and into the environment

According to scientists, the biggest source of PFOA is not Teflon manufacture, but telomers, which is a related family of chemicals. Telomers are also made by DuPont and are used to produce grease- and stain-repellent coatings for take-out food boxes, carpets and clothing.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has accused DuPont of withholding health-related information about PFOA back in 1981, and could charge them with more than $300 million in fines. DuPont has already agreed to pay $108 million to settle a suit brought by residents near a company plant concerning the detection of PFOA in the drinking water. The company claims they have not broken any laws and have vastly reduced emissions of PFOA.

A suggested solution to preventing PFOA from showing up inside people is to simply stop making the chemical altogether. One toxicologist said, "We're already to the point where it is in people and getting near the point where there's significant risk."

Other well-known brand names containing PFOA include Stainmaster, Scotchgard and SilverStone.

Seattle Times October 1, 2004

Environmental Working Group October, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Why is it that that companies can develop chemicals that essentially persists forever in our environment and never be held accountable to the chemicals' effects on our health?

Instead of worrying if you are heating Teflon products to a dangerously high temperature in fear of emitting chemicals into the air, I think it seems wise to potentially avoid this material all together. However, Teflon products do offer a certain convenience so it would seem reasonable to use them as long as you did not use high temperatures or promise to throw the pan away as soon as it has a scratch in the coating as nearly all Teflon pans are coatings over aluminum pans and the aluminum is something that you absolutely do not want in your food.

Although aluminum pots are probably less problematic than other sources of aluminum like drinking water and antiperspirants, I personally would not use aluminum cookware.

The best cookware would be ceramic-coated metal as the ceramic is virtually inert and will not transfer any metal ions to the food you cook. It is also important to use a stable oil like coconut oil (vegetable oils are easily damaged by the heat) and not overcook your food.

If you decide to go against the warnings, and continue the use of harmful products, plan on discarding most all Teflon coated cookware after about one year of regular use. As soon as a scratch develops on the surface, this cookware will start to leach aluminum, as that is the typical metal used beneath most Teflon coated cookware.

To discover more on the topic of chemical exposure in cookware, I recommend reading Dr. Paul Connett's commentary on this study.

I also recommend Dr. Doris Rapp's highly important book, Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call, which thoroughly addresses our exposure to numerous chemicals everyday through the air we breath, the water we drink and the products we use.

Cockatiels, canaries and parakeets died when exposed to fumes from overheated Teflon-lined pans and ovens. And then, separate studies reported the large-scale death of chickens and ducks exposed to fumes from heat lamps coated with PTFE at temperatures of roughly 390 degrees (about medium on your stove dial).

According to the nonprofit EWG, 16 peer-reviewed studies over the past 50 years have shown that when PTFE is heated to temperatures above 464 degrees, it produces 15 types of toxic gases and airborne particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Major decomposition will occur when temperatures exceed 660 degrees.

A study in 2000 found that at higher temperatures, these particles react with PTFE gases to cause extreme lung damage in rats. After that analysis, DuPont reported that Teflon pans are safe so long as you don’t heat them above 500 degrees or use them in the broiler.

The company also recommends against heating an empty pan — apparently with good reason.

In a test, the EWG placed three different PTFE-lined pans on three different stoves (electric and gas) and turned the burners on high. After five minutes, all three pans reached temperatures between 664 and 774 degrees

[birdsnreps]

although im not sure exactly what temp the teflon gets dangerous, i do know that it is safe when not overheated. BUT, who wants to risk loosing the fids? we use SS pots and pans to cook.

[Abyssinian1]

Ya know, when I married Dave, I gave up some seriously NICE teflon coated cookware, small appliances and baking ware. Also gave up my curling iron and purchased a clothing iron with a stainless stell bottom, rather than a cheap teflon coated one. I replaced anything Teflon with silicon and stainless steel, especially the bakeware. For anything that I need to broil, I use a stainless steel rack and a stainless stell cookie sheet underneath. Anything else needing baking gets done in aluminum (the disposable bakeware from the store), silicone or in tainless steel. I use a cast iron skillet for some things and have an enameled dutch oven that has no teflon or non-stick componenet. I agree with one of the previous posts: don't risk it and save yourself some time and trouble and just go to the store and pick up some prebaked goods.

Note, cooking sprays can also be hazaardous to your bird, as can any carbon fumes (i.e. burning - talk to me about the stove fire I started while attempting to make cocoanut almond crunch candy. Fun times )

[6species]

I have a question about the nonstick stuff. Not all nonstick pans are teflon, right? My birds live in the back part of the house, and are rarely if ever in the living room right next to the kitchen. I was under the impression that not all nonstick cookware was bad to use.

[6species]

:bump:

Anyone?

[lauriedrake]

I spoke with the Calphalon help line a while back, trying to find out which of their cookware would be safe. He said the original hard anodized had teflon sealed down into the core of the pan and could not release any of the harmful gasses. I specifically asked him about their new Calphalon One and the teflon pans, and he had a very short answer....don't use it! They were very aware of the teflon problems and had tested their cookware accordingly. But I bought stainless steel. I didn't want to take the chance. A friend of mine lost 2 fids when she used a teflon pan for boiling water, so there's no way I'll tempt fate.

Laurie