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PFCs: Global Contaminants: Teflon and other non-stick pans kill birds

Bird enthusiasts and veterinarians have known for decades that Teflon-coated and other non-stick cookware, if heated to high temperatures, is acutely toxic to birds. The peer-reviewed literature contains numerous reports of bird deaths linked to the use of Teflon and other non-stick pans and appliances in the home, beginning about 30 years ago. The birds die abruptly, usually shortly after new non-stick pans are heated for the first time. The ubiquity of the deaths has spurred mention of the problem on at least 100 websites devoted to the care of pet birds.

In 1975, in one of the early peer-reviewed articles on bird deaths, the authors describe the deaths of five pet birds following the owner heating a non-stick (PTFE-coated) pan:

“Five cocatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) died within 30 minutes following exposure to fumes from a frying pan coated with the "non-stick" plastic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that had accidentally overheated. Within an hour the owner developed symptoms of "polymer fume fever" but recovered in the next 24 hours. Clinical signs and post mortem lesions of the cockatiels are described and reference is made to the unusual susceptibility of parakeets to the pyrolysis products of frying pans coated with PTFE.” [1]

Bird deaths related to nonstick coatings are not restricted to exotic species in the home. A recent article recounts that hours after moving 2400 broiler chicks to a research warehouse at University of Columbia-Missouri, veterinarians noticed that substantial numbers of chicks were dying. Four percent of the chicks died in the first four hours, and within 72 hours more than half of the chicks were dead. After investigating the possibility of many common gas toxicants, scientists traced the deaths to lightbulbs coated with the Teflon chemical PTFE: “Further investigation revealed that the only change in management practice in this facility prior to the onset of the severe mortality problem was the replacement of 48 heat lamp bulbs (one for each pen). The new heat lamp bulbs were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated. PTFE gas intoxication has been reported in several exotic avian species, but this intoxication has not been previously reported in a poultry flock.” [2].

Scientists have not identified the particular offgas compound from Teflon and other nonstick pans and other kitchen equipment that is responsible for the bird deaths, but among the many chemicals that have been measured in the air when nonstick pans are heated are PFOA and other gases that scientists consider highly toxic [3].

References:

1. Blandford TB, Seamon PJ, Hughes R, Pattison M, Wilderspin MP. 1975. A case of polytetrafluoroethylene poisoning in cockatiels accompanied by polymer fume fever in the owner. Vet Rec 1975 Feb 22;96(8):175-8.
2. Boucher M, Ehmler TJ, Bermudez AJ. 2000. Polytetrafluoroethylene gas intoxication in broiler chickens. Avian Dis 2000 Apr-Jun;44(2):449-53.
3. Ellis DA, Mabury SA, Martin JW, Muir DC. 2001. Thermolysis of fluoropolymers as a potential source of halogenated organic acids in the environment. Nature 2001 Jul 19;412(6844):321-4.

 

Related websites:

upatsix.com

Hazards and

Search their database

Description: Up At Six is a very comprehensive pet bird care website. Lists common household hazards and provides a search engine for research by topic or keywords. Also links to avian associations, aviaries, sanctuaries, shopping, online chat groups, and many other bird-related issues.

Association of Avian Veterinarians: Basic Bird Care
http://www.aav.org/basic_care.htm#Avoid

Description: Association of Avian Veterinarians promotes avian medicine and stewardship. Become a member, find an avian vet, learn about AAV programs and policy statements.

PetPlace.com article: Dangers in the Kitchen
http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=3534

Description: PetPlace.com offers access to a wealth of medical and wellness pet information. Features an archive of more than 1350 pet-related articles searchable through a user-friendly database.

The National Cockatiel Society: General Bird Care
http://www.cockatiels.org/articles/care/gencare.html

Description: The official website of the National Cockatiel Society. Features a question and answer bulletin board with scheduled chats and “reading rooms” of cockatiel-related articles.

Planet-Pets.com: Housing/Feeding Birds
http://www.planet-pets.com/feedbrd.htm

Description: Planet Pets serves the public by finding, evaluating, selecting, organizing, and offering quality pet-related information and resources. Features a free online newsletter, kids korner, ask an expert, links to services.

Birds and More

Health issues and

Protecting birds from toxic fumes

Description: Online store for birds and their owners. Includes health tips and general care for your bird.

TalkToTheVet - Caged Bird Housing Considerations

http://www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES/BIRDS/Pbirdhousing.HTM

Description: Talk To The Vet is an online veterinarian consultation service. Links to vets, free newsletter, pet-specific articles, etc.

Bird Crazy - Safety Guide for Plants and Poisons

http://www.birdcrazy.com/newsite/articles/plants.htm

Description: Bird Crazy is an Online aviary based in San Diego, CA. Comprehensive list of poisonous plants and household poisons and well as a list of safe plants.

Birds N' Ways eZine

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww1e.htm

Description: Guide to parrots and other exotic pet birds. Offers dozens of links to shopping, chatting, information and miscellaneous bird-related sites. Offers access to thousands of articles searchable by keyword, topic, author and website.

ASPCA - Managing Pet Bird Toxicoses

http://www.aspca.org/site/Search?query=PTFE&inc=10

Description: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals exists to promote humane principles, prevent cruelty and alleviate fear, pain and suffering in animals. Use the search engine (search “PTFE”) to find a downloadable report “Managing Pet Bird Toxicoses”.

Additional Links:

Starling Talk

http://www.starlingtalk.com/warning.htm

Parrot Parrot

http://www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/kola.htm

Exotic Pet Vet

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/about.html

Kaytee

http://www.kaytee.com/companion_animals/birds/health/

PETA

http://www.petauk.org/mc/facts/fsc16.html

Pet Bird Report

http://www.petbirdreport.com/articles/dangers.html

The Parrot Chronicles

http://www.parrotchronicles.com/departments/hazards.htm

Feather Care Aviary

http://home.cogeco.ca/~jjackson283/index.htm

The Parrot Society of Australia

http://www.parrotsociety.org.au/

Stanley’s Quakerville

http://www.quakerville.com/features/ptfe.asp

Lafeber Company

http://www.lafeber.com/docs_book/13/thirty_three_dangers.htm

The Aviary

http://theaviary.com/teflon.shtml

Avitec Exotic Birds

http://www.avitec.com/Birdcare.html

Budgie.org

http://www.budgies.org/info/teflon.html

Those Majestic Macaws!

http://www.exoticbird.com/teflon.html

Taking Care Of Your New Bird

http://www.ddc.com/~kjohnson/safety.htm

Lovebird Center

http://www.lovebirdcenter.com/7hazards.htm

Cockatiel Cottage

http://www.cockatielcottage.net/hazards.html

New England Exotic Bird Sanctuary

http://www.neebs.org/poisons.htm

South Bay Bird Society

http://www.sobaybirdsoc.com/hazards.htm

Austin Bird Club

http://www.austinbirdclub.com/dangerous.htm

Old World Aviaries

http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/styles/teflon.html

http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/miscellaneous/buying_a_bird.htm

Bignest Aviaries

http://www.bignest.com/food.htm

http://www.bignest.com/misgrey.htm

Wee B Toys

http://www.weebbirds.com/firstaid.htm

Pet Bird Care Safety Tips and Information

http://members.tripod.com/~DAdams/qkbrdinf.html

Parrot Online

http://www.parrotline.org/teflon.html

Bella Online

http://bellaonline.com/articles/art3973.asp

Senegal

http://www.makasnest.com/senegal/Teflon/toxins.htm

Feathers and Tails

http://www.feathersandtails.org/holiday.html

Birds By Donna

http://www.birdsbydonna.com/BIRDS_BY_DONNA/Basic_Bird_Cax.html

Kindness Club

http://www.kindnessclub.nb.ca/pets/BirdSafety.html

Rockport Roost

http://www.rockportroost.com/Birdsafetytips.htm

Animal Lovers Pet Shop

http://www.animalloverspetshop.com/whatsnew.htm

The Real Macaw

http://www.realmacaw.com/pages/tielcare.html

Wool-N-Wings

http://www.parrots.com/faq-hn.htm

African Lovebird Society

http://www.africanlovebirdsociety.com/lovebirdcare/

North American Cockatiel Society

http://www.cockatiel.org/articles/hazards.html

Angel Wings Aviary

http://www.parrot-breeder.com/parrothazards.htm

A&M Aviaries

http://www.petbirdbreeder.com/hazards.htm

The Animal Clinic of Clifton

http://www.pethealthcare.net/html/body_household_dangers.html

Birdsafe.com

http://www.birdsafe.com/story_bird33.htm

NetPets

http://www.netpets.org/birds/healthspa/poisons2.html

Arizona Avian Breeders Association

http://azavianbreeders.org/BirdCare.shtml

Avian Avenue

http://zachary.avianavenue.com/BirdSafety.html

Ask Dr. Petra

http://www.drpetra.com/Birds/Household%20Dangers.htm

Long Island Parrot Society of New York

http://www.liparrotsociety.org/harmful.htm

http://www.liparrotsociety.org/teflon!.htm

The Grey Place

http://www.africangreys.com/hints/emergency.htm

Birds Birds Birds!

http://parrotfeathers.tripod.com/care.htm

The Family Pet Show

http://www.familypetshow.com/toxocosis.html

Doctors Foster and Smith

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Articles/bird_commoninjuries.cfm

Parrots Canada

http://www.parrotscanada.com/birdowner/forthenewbirdowner.html

Birds Just Wanna Have Fun

http://www.birdsjustwannahavefun.com/durability_info.htm

American Animal Hospital Association

http://www.healthypet.com/Library/prevent-18.html

Soldan’s Feed and Pet Supplies

http://www.soldanspet.com/petperspectives/bird_basics.htm

British Columbia SPCA

http://www.spca.bc.ca/Factsheets/birdcare.htm

The Avian Medicine Chest

http://www.petmedicinechest.com/avian/discussions/chemicalpoisoningtext.asp

Pet Parrot Club UK

http://www.petparrotclubuk.co.uk/help/hazards.htm

The Pet Bird Website

http://www.petbird.co.uk/housedangers.htm

Quaker Parakeet

http://www.quakerparakeet.com/b4ubuy.html

Houston Pet Talk

http://www.houstonpettalk.com/Column_Bird_Buddies.htm

Hex Aviary

http://www.hexaviary.com/hexlocal.htm

Birds of a Feather

http://www.boaf.com/article_11.htm

All Creatures Animal Hospital

http://www.all-creatures.com/care/bird.htm

Feathered Friends Forever

http://www.featheredfriendsforever.org/homesafety.html

Bird Crazy

http://www.birdcrazy.com/toxins.htm

The Parrotlet Parlour

http://www.theparrotletparlour.com/Parrotlet_Hazards.shtml

The Windhover Veterinary Center

http://www.windhovervet.com/birdcare.htm

Arizona Bird Supply

http://www.azbirdsupply.com/bird%20care_basics.htm

The PetCARE Information Center

http://petcare.umn.edu/OPets/Articles/BirdTox.htm

The Holistic Bird Newsletter

http://www.holisticbirds.com/HBN01/octnov/pages/chronic1.htm

Win Rose Animal Hospital

http://www.winrosevet.com/Birds.htm

Harmony’s World of Pets

http://www.petvets.com/petcare/birdscolumn.html

Janice’s Bird Haven

http://www.wtv-zone.com/JaniceMarr/feathered/Care.html

The Bird Hotline

http://www.birdhotline.com/vet.htm

The True Parrot

http://thetrueparrot.homestead.com/EnvironmentalNeeds.html

The Grey-cheeked Parakeet

http://www.lib.montana.edu/~bmarsh/cheeky/dosdonts.html

Dandy the African Grey Parrot

http://www.vdnent.com/html/articles/part_behav_be-a-bird.htm

Quaker Parrots

http://www.quakerparrots.com/qtips/more_thoughts_on_teflon.htm/

http://www.quakerparrots.com/qtips/dangers_of_teflon.htm

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

http://www.arl-iowa.org/PetCare/Birds.asp

Wasatch Avian Education Society

http://www.wasatchavian.com/fosterguide.html

Dane County Humane Society

http://www.humanesociety.dane.wi.us/care/bird_groom.html

Montreal Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital

http://www.birdandexoticvet.com/avian.html

Parrot Passions UK

http://www.parrotpassionsuk.com/Advice/hazards.htm

Birdlife

http://www.birdlife.com/care/dangers.html

Pretty Birds

http://www.prettybirds.net/Parrotsafehome.htm

The Animal Network

http://www.animalnetwork.com/birds/library/articleview3.asp?Section=&RecordNo=2721

Pet Finder

http://www.petfinder.org/journalindex.cgi?path=/public/animalcare/bird/1.3.404.txt

Budgies ’N Tiels

http://www.budgies-n-tiels.com/contents/health.html

Pair o' Keets and Qweak n' Tails

http://www.geocities.com/monicaarnouk/BirdHazards.htm

SunConure

http://www.sunconure.com/safety.html

Give Us A Home

http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/birds/faq.htm

Eve’s India

http://www.evesindia.com/family/pets/bird_safety.html

MSN Health

http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/35/1728_84136

Pet Education

http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=15&cat=1829&articleid=2418
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=15&cat=1912&articleid=1559

North Fork Animal Hospital

http://www.northforkanimalhospital.com/animals/birds/birds_quaker.htm