Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> "dsi1" > wrote in message
> >
> > I have heard of birds dropping dead from the out-gassing of overheated
> > non-stick pans. I can't say if that's real or just an urban legend -
> > whether it's true or not, the important thing is that I have yet to be
> > overcome by fumes. I have ruined pans from overheating but only because I
> > left them unattended. Kids don't try this at home!
>
> It is real, but it is the result of stupidity and overheated, often
> unattended, pans. Birds have very sensitive respiratory systems and can
> also be affected by burning foods or any other source of smoke and
> pollution.

It's highly overstated and simply not "real" for anyone who knows how to
cook. The critical temperature is about 600F and normal cooking doesn't
get anywhere near that hot. Also few people have birds as pets and the
fumes at 600F have never been shown to be harmful to anything but birds.