PFPC Daily - November 12,2004

Teflon gas is blamed for killing pet birds

Telegraph - Nov.3, 2004

By Paul Stokes

Four birds died in their cage after being overcome by fumes when their
owner took a meat pie on a non-stick baking tray from the oven.

Irene Clark heard her two budgerigars Billy and Gregory squawk as she
sat down to eat her dinner while it was still hot.

When she went to inspect them, she realised that they were dying and
five minutes later her cockatiel Molly "started going all wobbly" and
died soon after.

Later the same evening her parrot Charlie began behaving oddly before
he also expired.

A vet examined one of the dead birds the next day and Mrs Clark
realised that all four might have been poisoned by gases.

Mrs Clark, of Hibaldstow, Lincs, said: "The post mortem initially
proved inconclusive, but the vet added he suspected Teflon gas could
have been to blame.

"He told me gases were sometimes given off when a tray is heated up
and those gases just don't stay in one room.

"It has been heartbreaking. The more people who are made aware of this
thing the better."

Mrs Clark has been told not to replace the birds for a week because of
lingering gas traces.

DuPont, manufacturers of non-stick pans, admit that when over-heated
their Teflon products can harm birds.