- It makes no sound and has no smell. Polytetraflouethylene
(Teflon fumes) is deadly for your birds. A bird's size and lung capacity
make him more sensitive to the toxins in our environment. It was for this
reason that coal miners would take a canary down into the mines with them.
If the bird became sick or died, they knew it was dangerous for them to
be in that mine.
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- Polytetraflouethylene is known by the brand name Teflon
and most bird owners realize that using products that have this coating
cannot safely be used around birds. However, there are many other brand
names that are also polytetraflouethylene. Some of these are: Silverstone,
Fluron, Supra, Excalibur, Greblon, Xylon, Duracote, Resistal, Autograph
and T-Fal are just a few. These coatings are used primarily to keep things
from sticking.
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- The San Antonio Zoo in Texas lost 21 birds in an outdoor
aviary awhile back. Their death was caused when the birds gathered by lights
that the zoo had installed so that the birds could warm themselves in an
outdoor aviary. The bulbs had been coated with Polytetraflouethylene. Phillips
standard red heating lamps have a coating of Teflon. The FDA now requires
that bulbs be given a Teflon coating as a shatter shield when used around
food. If you are planning to use a light to help warm a brooder or keep
a sick bird warm, look it over carefully and read the box to see if Teflon
has been used. If it does not have a box or does not say it has a special
coating, check the bulb itself. The Teflon coated ones have a bubbly or
cloudy surface. They may use one of the other brand names for Polytetraflouethylene
so remember that just because it doesn't say Teflon it doesn't mean that
it is safe to use around birds.
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- PTFE was discovered in 1941. Basically this is a plastic.
Teflon is the trademark for a tetrafluoroeghylene resin with a high resistance
to heat and corrosive chemicals. It was originally used in wire insulation,
cable spacers, gaskets and in other applications in the chemical industry.
It then became popular as a non-stick coating for cook ware.
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- In 1951 the first case of human suffering from tetrafluoroethylene
problems was reported. It produces flu like symptoms in humans. The tetrafluoroethylene
lingers long after the product has been removed. It can remain in carpeting
and draperies for some time.
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- Birds die an extremely painful and agonizing death when
exposed to these fumes. This product may not kill all the birds at the
same time. The toxins travel on air currants. The currant can by-pass one
bird and come in contact with another. The fumes swirl on these air currants
similar to the way that smoke would. The bird does not have to be in the
room where the fumes originate as they can be carried into various parts
of the house on these air currants. Smaller birds can take less of the
fumes than a larger bird, but even a small amount of exposure can kill
a large bird.
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- When the report first circulated about Teflon causing
bird deaths, it was thought that very high heat was needed to release the
deadly fumes. Now there are reports that temperatures as low as 285 degrees
can cause death to birds.
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- Teflon starts emitting 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. Small birds breathing these fumes for
only a few seconds took as long as 24 hours to die.
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- Many people think that Teflon is only dangerous if the
pan burns. This danger lurks in other products besides cookware. These
do not have to operate at a high temperature to cause damage to your birds.
I have listed some products that use polytetraflouethylene. Not all of
these use this coating nor are these the only places that it is used. Carefully
read all products that you buy before you use them around your bird. If
in doubt, call up the manufacturer and asked what he has used in the product.
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- Some Products That Use Polytetraflouethylene
- a.. Heat lamps
- b.. Portable heaters
- c.. Sole plates on irons
- d.. Ironing board covers
- e.. Burners on stove tops
- f.. Drip pans for burners
- g.. Broiler pans
- h.. Griddles
- i.. Many cooking utensils
- j.. Woks
- k.. Waffle makers
- l.. Electric skillets
- m.. Deep fryers, crock pots,
- n.. Hot air popcorn poppers
- o.. Coffee makers
- p.. Bread makers
- q.. Non-stick rolling pins
- r.. Lollipop molds
- s.. Corkscrews
- t.. Never-Stick-Stainless Steel
- u.. Stockpots
- v.. Roasters
- w.. Non-stick gingerbread molds
- x.. Pizza pans
- y.. Tortilla presses
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