Do different species react differently to air pollutants?

[Snowy]

I know that birds are very sensitive to 'stuff' in the air.
I know about teflon and fumes.

But until recently, I didn't realize that stuff like febreeze and scented candles are bad. So I routinely used them around my budgie. I never sprayed the stuff right around her or had candles next to her, but she has been in the room where I did. the room is an open family room-kitchen type where it's not enclosed. I wonder if that helped.

Not so much the febreeze stuff, but I was burning scented candles (ones from Illuminations) all the time for several years and my budgie is fine.

Are the toxins due to candles cumulative? I've stopped doing it now, but I'm just wondering if she's still been affected or if the Illumination brand candles aren't as toxic?

Are budgies more tolerant of airborne matter than other species? Are there species more vulnerable to it than others?

Do these pollutants kill instantly ( I think teflon fumes do this, right?) or have cumulative affects?

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by Snowy

Do these pollutants kill instantly ( I think teflon fumes do this, right?) or have cumulative affects?

both actually. I think so far, you have just been lucky that it hasnt been instant.
I have the info somewhere on my computer about how they breath. I will find it and post it this afternoon.
Also know, Scarring can occur in the lungs and air sacs from the pollutants. that would be the later effects that creep up on you.
Macaws are more sensitive to dust and dander from toos, tiels, and greys.
no other species, noted yet to date, is effected like macaws are. Blue and Golds being the MOST sensitive of the family.

[Lisa B]

Ventilation and the air sacs
Unlike mammals, birds do not possess a muscular diaphragm, and the lungs do not act as a pair of bellows. The design of the avian respiratory system is extraordinarily efficient, so that birds can extract sufficient oxygen for life even while undertaking strenuous exercise at altitudes of up to 7 or even 8 Km.

While the relative weight of the lungs is comparable to that seen in mammals, their relative volume is only one-tenth. This is because air flows through the lungs in a constant one-way stream, unlike mammals and reptiles where there is an inefficient tidal ebb and flow.

In addition the exchange surface (ie distance from air to blood) is much thinner in birds.

A major feature of the respiratory system of birds is pneumatisation of the long bones, the vertebral column and even the skull. These air spaces connect with the air sacs (below).

The air flow is a complex circulation involving pumping action of thin-walled air sacs in the thorax and abdomen. These extend into the long bones: in the 18th century John Hunter showed that birds could still breath with a blocked windpipe provided one of the long bones (he tried both the femur and the humerus) was connected to the outside air. Most of the major bones of the body connect with the air sac system. This gives lightness as well as being a reservoir of oxygen.

The major features of the respiratory system are as follows. See and complete Fig 3.1
The nostrils are generally at the base of the upper mandible. There is no soft palate and both the oropharynx and the choanal opening pass air to the glottis to enter the larynx.

The trachea connects this to the syrinx, the site of vocalization generally at the tracheal bifurcation. This has three potential vibrating surfaces, which explains why birds like Magpies can sing complex harmonies of different pitch simultaneously. Birds vary considerably in the musculature and anatomy of the syrinx and this of course reflects the potential complexity of their vocalisation.

The primary bronchi connect the syrinx to each lung, but the air passes through in the mesobronchi to the abdominal and posterior (caudal) thoracic air sacs. These lie ventro-lateral to the abdominal viscera: between the intestines and the abdominal wall. In addition there are paired anterior air sacs and a single interclavicular air sacarising from the mesobronchi, but there is considerable variation on this basic pattern between species.

From the caudal air sacs the air now flows cranially through the lungs by dorsobronchi and ventrobronchi. These branch out into a complex arrangement of air capillaries or parabronchi. Blood capillaries in the walls of these flow counter to the air stream, allowing for a highly efficient gas exchange.

The stale air then passes to the anterior air sacs and to an unpaired interclavicular air sac, whence it discharges via the trachea.

There is thus a four-beat cycle to respiration:--

(1) First inhalation. Air passes to the posterior air sacs, with expansion of the abdomen.

(2) First exhalation. The abdomen contracts forcing air through the lungs.

(3) Second inhalation. As the abdomen expands again the stale air in the lungs is forced out to the anterior sacs.

(4) Second exhalation. Contraction of the abdomen and anterior sacs drives stale air out of the trachea while fresh air floods into the exchange region.

[Lisa B]

Most birds have 9 air sacs:
one interclavicular sac
two cervical sacs
two anterior thoracic sacs
two posterior thoracic sacs
two abdominal sacs
Functionally, these 9 air sacs can be divided into anterior sacs (interclavicular, cervicals, & anterior thoracics) & posterior sacs (posterior thoracics & abdominals). Air sacs have very thin walls with few blood vessels. So, they do not play a direct role in gas exchange. Rather, they act as a 'bellows' to ventilate the lungs.


Respiratory link

Bird Respiratory System

[birdlady49]

The reason birds can fly for long distances without problem is because of their intricate respiratory system. Essentially while half of the sacs are inhaling, the other half is exhaling. So they can keep going.

Just as humans won't contract lung cancer with initial exposure to cigarettes, birds won't either. But it builds up until it finally causes serious problems or death. Same with other toxins.

Plug-in air fresheners are also toxic. If you want to freshen your house, cook some cinammon and ginger and even some orange peels. Make sure your bird is caged when you do that.

[Snowy]

Im hoping I didn't cause serious damage - I don't use all that stuff anymore.
One thing hopefully in my favor that Snowy 'lives' in a very large room with tons of windows and high ceilings with tons of ventilation.

[swanwillow]

that is extremely interesting, thank you for the pictures!

[Troy1966]

I have a eclectus that was exposed to insecticide yesterday. He breathing different since the exposure. He still eating his food and drinking water. i also check his stool and it is still green. I tried to take him to a vet,nobody open for the holiday.Can I wait unitl Monday for him to be seen?

[chapala]

YOu need to start a new topic instead of posting on an old thread if you want people to respond.