# Is Teflon bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-teflon-bad-for-you/174116 "2003-05-09T14:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-teflon-bad-for-you/174116/1 "2003-05-09T14:53:57Z")
I have been hearing lately that Teflon is perhaps not such a good thing to cook with, after all. I have heard that Teflon breaks down under heat and causes some sort of fumes. Here is an article explaining the charges being made about Teflon: [http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/archive/19-7-19101-1-25-24.html](http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/archive/19-7-19101-1-25-24.html) Furthermore, I was told that on a related note, said fumes were deadly for birds. When I first heard it, I really that it was a UL, but upon googling, I found these links: [http://theaviary.com/teflon.shtml](http://theaviary.com/teflon.shtml) and [http://www.budgies.org/info/teflon.html](http://www.budgies.org/info/teflon.html) Should I be getting rid of all my teflon pots and pans? Is this something that the companies will cover? Obviously my health comes first, but I have paid a small fortune for my Caphlon pans. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-teflon-bad-for-you/174116/2 "2003-05-09T15:20:48Z")
It does indeed snuff birds quickly-- the main problem is if the teflon has been scratched, leaving little bits extra-exposed; at that point if the teflon hits about 500 degrees (say you forget about something on the stove) your birdies will kick the bucket so fast you won’t have any time to help. We have one teflon skillet left and when I use it I keep it at very low heat and open the doors to help ventilate. This suggests to me that teflon fumes aren’t good for people, either, but it’s much harder to kill a 175 pound animal that a 300 gram one. I guess you didn’t say that you own a bird. . . it’s probably not great for your health, but note the above-- it’s really when it get very hot and scratched that it emits a lot of fumes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-teflon-bad-for-you/174116/3 "2003-05-09T16:36:06Z")
Note also that it’s tough for a pan on the stove to reach 500 degrees, especially if there’s fluid in it. Most likely, you’ll smell whatever you’re cooking burning before the teflon starts fuming. But don’t use teflon in the oven. ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-teflon-bad-for-you/174116/4 "2003-05-09T16:40:44Z")
I guess teflon bits (the pieces that flake off scratched older pans) in your eggs aren’t good either? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-teflon-bad-for-you/174116/5 "2003-05-09T20:00:29Z")
No, I don’t have a bird. I heard the story and it sounded like an UL me. I was wrong, it appears. Learn something new everyday.