STARKS: Demise of birds probed

[thundley4]

I know some of the members here have pet birds, so they may want to be careful.

STARKS -- Could nonstick coating material used on some kitchen cookware have caused the deaths of a dozen exotic birds this past weekend?

Probably, says Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, director of the diagnostic laboratory at the University of Maine, who performed a necropsy -- an examination of the internal organs -- on several of the dead birds.

Contacted late Wednesday, Lichtenwalner said her test results point to fumes from nonstick coatings on cookware as the most likely cause of death.
From Dupont's site:
"Because birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems, bird owners must take precautions to protect them," the Delaware-based chemical company states. "Cooking fumes, smoke and odors that have little or no effect on people can seriously sicken and even kill birds, often quite quickly. "This is why bird owners should take steps to protect their pets, such as keeping their birds out of the kitchen, never leaving cookware unattended, never allowing pots and pans to overheat, and making sure that their kitchen is properly ventilated at all times."

Killer Pans?

[Ptarmigan]

I wonder if this applies to ptarmigans?

[Eupher]

That is no joke. For those of us who have birds (we have two parrots), using nonstick cookware - HEATED AT A VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE -- can kill them.

There are at least three flavors of nonstick, or bonding agent, that can cause death in birds:

perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—also known as C-8.
Dupont's Teflon, of course
polytetrafluorethelyne (PTFE),

Virtually all nonstick coatings have one or more of these materials, to some level.

While Mrs. E. and I have such utensils at home, we are very cautious in how we use them and we NEVER heat to high temps. Any sauteing or braising is done in a regular stainless vessel of some type.