The Danger of Non-stick Coatings

By Donna Marthaler  

    When non-stick coating on cookware (and other household products) over heat, it produces a toxic gas called Polytetraflouethylene.  When inhaled the gas effects the brain and causes the involuntary muscles to shut down.  Usually resulting in respiratory distress followed by a painful death.  There have also been many reports of flu like symptoms in humans who have been exposed to Teflon fumes.  The temperature does not have to be high like most people believe.  Teflon starts emitting fumes from the start of heating and contrary to popular belief, temperatures as low as 285 degrees can cause death in birds.  Teflon starts releasing toxic fumes from the start of heating. It does not have to be a high temperature or for an extended length of time to cause death to your bird. 

     Polytetraflouethylene is used in many household items listed below: 

          Hair dryers 
          Heat lamps/light bulbs 
          Portable heaters 
          Irons 
          Ironing board covers 
          Stove top burners 
          Drip pans 
          Broiler pans 
          Cooking utensils 
          Kitchen appliances like waffle makers, griddles, woks, bread machines and coffee makers 
          Candy molds 

     Here is a story of a couple who lost many birds recently to Polytetraflouethylene gas. 

     We have lost 18 birds because of a pot of boiling water that was left on the stove.  It was forgotten in the hustle of daily life.  The pan boiled dry and burnt the Teflon coating.  The deadly gas produced killed the birds 2 hours later. 

     We love all of the birds that we have in our home, breeders and pets.  Thank god that our 11 pets were spared by this ordeal but we lost a dear member of our household, Bobby.  He was a 2 year old Cherry head Conure.  I bought him at a bird show in St. Louis, MO.  He was special from the day I saw him. 

     I walked by and he said "Hello".  So I returned the greeting and offered him a tightly clinched finger to bite.  I offer $135.00 for him but the owner felt that he was worth more seeing that he was hand fed, banded and surgically sexed.  I left the table to think about it.  Before the day was over, I was owned by a Cherry head 'Con Man'   I brought him home and he in turn fell in love with my wife.  He liked to find the plastic adjustment on my wife's bra strap and break it through her blouse.  She would keep pushing him back and he would raise up and say "STOP IT!".     We have over 250 birds here.  Out of the 18 birds lost to this tragedy, he will be missed the most.  Our postman, Dale will miss him also.  He loved it when Bobby would hang off the cage, turn his head upside down and say "Bobby's a corker and Mica is a butt!"  or "I Love You". 

     Everyone needs to know the dangers of non-stick cookware if they are going to have them in their homes.  My wife and I are devastated and it was only a terrible accident.  I have 18 birds etched in my mind and one in my heart. 

Dennis E. Crocker Sr. 
Bloomsdale, MO 
 
 

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