http://www.ewg.org/reports/pfcworld/part8.php

For decades, pet owners, scientists and veterinarians have recognized the acute risks posed to birds when non-stick cookware and other kitchen goods, including products bearing the Teflon family of brands, are heated to high temperatures. Often, but not always, the equipment is overheated, and by accident. Untold thousands of pet birds have been killed within minutes in incidents since the early 1960s as a result of poisonous fumes emanating from heated pots, pans, grills, ovens and other non-stick kitchen equipment. Unfortunately, some pet bird owners remain unaware of this risk.

A new Environmental Working Group (EWG) Web site calls attention to this problem. It links to other Web sites, including yours, that warn bird lovers about the acutely fatal risks that non-stick kitchen products can pose to pets.

The EWG Web site and report provide the first comprehensive review of the environmental and health risks posed by perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) that now contaminate the entire globe. You can access the site at: http://www.ewg.org

EWG is a nonprofit research organization that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. Our PFCs Web site focuses on PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid ) because this chemical is now under intensive regulatory pressure at the EPA. It is used in the production of Teflon and other non-stick pans, and is a chemical cousin of PFOS, the original perfluorochemical contained in Scotchgard (EPA forced PFOS off the market in 2000). Both chemicals are toxic to people and animals, are extraordinarily persistent, and like others in the PFC family, now pervasively contaminate the blood of people and wildlife across the globe.

Among our recommendations with respect to the future and use of perfluorochemicals are the following, specific to pet birds:
--Don't buy Teflon or other non-stick cookware or other kitchen equipment and phase out the use of these items in your home. If you can afford to replace it now, do so. When heated to high temperatures, Teflon and other non-stick equipment emits fumes that can be harmful.
--If you have a pet bird in your home, you should never use Teflon or other non-stick cookware or kitchen items. Thousands of birds have been killed within minutes by fumes emanating from Teflon and other non-stick kitchen pots, pans and other equipment that has been heated to a high temperature.

We are also aware that many, if not most of the Webmasters for those sites have received warning letters from Dupont, insisting that the word "Teflon" not be used in connection with bird poisoning incidents or risks. We post the text of the Dupont letters on our Web site.

EWG has no intention of removing our mention of Teflon or other product names on our Web site, which contains the following disclaimer: Gore-tex®, SilverStone® and Teflon® are registered trademarks of Dupont Chemical Company. Stainmaster® and Scotchgard® are the registered trademarks of 3M. Dupont Chemical Company and 3M do not sponsor or endorse this report.

If you would prefer that we remove links to your Web site, please contact me by return email. If you have other links to add on this subject, or an updated Web site you wish us to link to, please send them along.

Sincerely,
Anne Morgan
Administrative Assistant
EWG

http://www.ewg.org/reports/pfcworld/part8.php

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