Teflon Horrors

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Teflon Horrors

Postby merlin » Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:15 pm

Hi, Maggie.

Happy new year!

Is Calphalon toxic to parrots the way Teflon is when overheated?

Betty
merlin
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Re: Teflon Horrors

Postby merlin » Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:26 pm

Hi Betty,

YES! Anything with PTFE is harmful to our parrots, including the Calphalon brand. We have lots of info on this in our Helpful Hints section of this site, under Emergencies. Here is a brief explanation as to what happens:

Did you know that our birds’ respiratory systems are more efficient than ours? A bird’s respiratory system is connected to its skeletal system, and its bones are hollow and lightweight. Therefore, because of this connection, the moment it breathes something, it travels immediately through the entire body through the skeletal system. This means that the tiniest "toxic fume," even a fume that you can’t smell, can overcome your bird in minutes, as it travels throughout the bird’s body immediately through the hollow bones and skeletal system.

Further, due to a bird’s small size, high metabolic rate, low body fat AND efficient respiratory system, it is EXTREMELY sensitive to toxins and particulate irritants, and it can die in minutes when exposed to intoxicating airborne substances. This is why canaries were used to warn coal miners in the early 1900's .....if the canary died, the miners knew to evacuate the mines immediately before being overcome themselves by the fumes.

One of the worst dangers is the non-stick ingredient called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which comes under many brand names, such as TEFLON, SUPRA and SILVERTONE, to name a few. When cookware with PTFE (ANY NON-STICK COOKWARE) is heated, it breaks down and emits several types of organic gases and hydroflouric acid: the gases and acid attack the air sacs of the birds almost immediately. Also, after "teflon" or other non-stick surfaces are scratched or tainted in any way, they are susceptible to breakdown of the acid and gases, no matter the temperatures.

As the world becomes more modernized and the push is for more convenience, the grip of "teflon" or PTFE on many different products has escalated. Always check with manufacturers to make sure their products are "teflon free." Be careful and avoid the following types of products that have non-stick coatings:

pots/pans computer printers
space heaters crock pots
irons hot air poppers
hair dryers coffee makers
heat lamps bread makers
ironing board covers non-stick rolling pins
stove top burners lollipop molds
drip pans never-stick stainless steel
broiler pans stockpots
griddles roasters
woks pizza pans
waffle makers tortilla presses
electric skillets and MANY other appliances.


Avoid these brands:
Product brand names containing PTFE include non-stick Teflon, SilverStone, Supra, Calphalon, All-Clad, Circulon, Emerilware, Farberware, Meyer, KitchenAid, Krups, and George Foreman. The stain repellants StainMaster and Scotchgard also contain PTFE.


I use stainless Steel pans and the OLD original brand called Revere Ware. Revere Ware DOES now have teflon coated pans, too, so please be very, very, very careful. If you order them, make sure you get the pans WITHOUT the PTFE coating.

Check out our site info here: http://www.africangreys.com/hints/emergency.htm

Another site with good info is as follows: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=2874

Blessings,
Maggie-
merlin
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Posts: 188
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am


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