Dangers of Teflon

[gbird]

I found this on another forum....very interesting stats on the affect of Teflon on birds.

Please read, and pass on to anyone you know who owns a bird and uses Teflon:

Here's a link to a website that discusses the dangers of teflon, for humans, birds and other animals.

THE DANGERS OF TEFLON PANS

Here is one quote from that website:

"Under ordinary cooking scenarios, Teflon kills birds. A review of the literature and bird owners’ accounts of personal experience with Teflon toxicosis shows that Teflon can be lethal at normal cooking temperatures, with no human lapses in judgment or wakefulness.


Bird deaths have been documented during or immediately after the following normal cooking scenarios:
New Teflon-lined Amana oven was used to bake biscuits at 325°F; all the owner’s baby parrots died. Four stovetop burners, underlined with Teflon-coated drip pans, were preheated in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner; 14 birds died within 15 minutes. Nonstick cookie sheet was placed under oven broiler to catch the drippings; 107 chicks died. Self-cleaning feature on the oven was used; a $2,000 bird died. Set of Teflon pans, including egg poaching pan, were attributed to seven bird deaths over seven years. Water burned off a hot pan; more than 55 birds died.


Electric skillet at 300°F and space heater were used simultaneously; pet bird died. Toaster oven with a non-stick coating was used to prepare food at a normal temperature; bird survived but suffered respiratory distress. Water being heated for hot cocoa boiled off completely; pet bird died. Grill plate on gas stove used to prepare food at normal temperatures; two birds died on two separate occasions.
DuPont claims that its coating remains intact indefinitely at 500°F. Experiences of consumers whose birds have died from fumes generated at lower temperatures show that this is not the case. In one case researchers at the University of Missouri documented the death of about 1,000 broiler chicks exposed to offgas products from coated heat lamps at 396°F.


DuPont also claims that human illness will be produced only in cases involved gross overheating, or burning the food to an inedible state. Yet DuPont's own scientists have concluded that polymer fume fever in humans is possible at 662°F, a temperature easily exceeded when a pan is preheated on a burner or placed beneath a broiler, or in a self-cleaning oven."

[zippy]

we use ceramic pans

[kellywess]

I know first hand what teflon can do.... three birds in 45 minutes. The saddest day of my life, sheer horror to be exact. The worst part I wasnt even home when it happened. My husband called me screaming... by the time I got home they were gone... only one survived. They died (drowned) in his hands. The oven was set at 325 degrees, we didnt know then what we know now (we were kinda new to the bird / pet thing) thought teflon pans were only dangerous above 500 degrees... hard lesson to learn. Pan had been used several times before... no problem... but that day the liquid steamed out ofthe pan and it scorched. I still feel guilty and I wasnt even there. It all happened so quick and to this day it just seems so unreal, I cant even think about it. I miss my babies... everyday. The blue crown conure I lost was our first bird. I also lost a cherry head baby and a yellow collared macaw. It WONT happen again.

[Jannabellsmom]

Thank you for the reminder that this is nothing to take chances with. Kelly I'm so saddened to hear of your tragedy.

[kellywess]

Thank you for your kind words, that was a really crappy day. My severe survived by the grace of god... it was touch and go (liver damage) but he got through it, I still have him and I thank god for him everyday. I lost 15lbs that week, creamated three birds and slept on the floor in the living room right by his cage for a month to watch over my sole survivor until he was well. If I can prevent this from happening to anybody by telling my story no matter how hard (as tears are rolling down my face) then its all good. I wouldnt wish it on anybody. It was just horrible... that morning I had four happy, healthy obnoxious wonderful birds and by 7:00 p.m. all hell broke loose. You never get over losing "one" much less "three" in one day. So read the article and take it seriously. If you have any ?... please feel free to PM me. I know it ALL now.