Polymer fume fever

Polymer fume fever

Polymer fume fever or fluoropolymer fever, also informally called Teflon flu, is an inhalation fever caused by the fumes released when Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, known under the trade names Fluon, Teflon, and Halon) is heated to between 300 °C and 450 °C. When PTFE is heated above 450 °C the pyrolysis products are different and inhalation may cause acute lung injury. Symptoms are flu-like (chills, headaches and fevers) with chest tightness and mild cough. Onset occurs about 4 to 8 hours after exposure to the pyrolysis products of PTFE. Signs: leukocytosis; normal chest x-ray.

Resolution: within 48 hours (doubted, see Teflon).

The polymer fumes are especially harmful to certain birds whose breathing, optimized for rapidity, allows toxins which are excluded by human lungs. Fumes from Teflon in very high heat are fatal to parrots [Athan, Mattie Sue, "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot", p. 126, Barron's Educational Service", 1993, ISBN 0-8120-4996-9] , and as well as some other birds. (PTFE Toxicosis, [http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=15&cat=18&articleid=2874] .)

ee also

*metal fume fever

References

External links

* PMID 8272977 - Polymer fume fever and other fluorocarbon pyrolysis-related syndromes.
* [http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=4716 "Can Teflon make you sick?", "Medical News Today"]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • polymer fume fever — an occupational disorder due to exposure to the products of combustion of polymers, chiefly polytef (also known as Teflon); manifestations are similar to those of metal fume fever …   Medical dictionary

  • metal fume fever — an occupational disorder occurring in those engaged in welding and other metallic operations and due to inhalation of volatilized metals; it is characterized by sudden onset of thirst and a metallic taste in the mouth, followed by high fever,… …   Medical dictionary

  • Fever — Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.).… …   Medical dictionary

  • polytef — poly·tef (polґĭ tef) a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, used as a surgical implant material for prostheses, such as artificial vessels and orbital floor implants and for many applications in skeletal augmentation and skeletal fixation. Also… …   Medical dictionary

  • Polytetrafluoroethylene — chembox ImageFile = Teflon structure.png ImageSize = 130px ImageFile1 = PTFE 3D vdW.png ImageSize1 = 250px IUPACName = Poly(tetrafluoroethene) SystematicName = Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) OtherNames = Teflon Section1 = Chembox Identifiers… …   Wikipedia

  • Non-stick surface — A non stick surface is a surface engineered to reduce the ability of other materials to stick to it. A non stick coating may be applied to a substrate to produce such a surface. One common application of non stick coatings is cookware. Until… …   Wikipedia

  • Perfluoroisobutene — IUPAC name 1,1,3,3,3 pentafluoro 2 (trifluoromethyl)prop 1 ene …   Wikipedia

  • Non-stick pan — A non stick pan Non stick pans are cooking pans made from or coated with materials designed to prevent food from sticking to their surface during the cooking process. Most non stick pans are made using Teflon (PTFE) coating although newer… …   Wikipedia

  • Polymerrauchfieber — (n) eng polymer fume fever …   Arbeitssicherheit und Gesundheitsschutz Glossar

  • лихорадка полимерная — rus лихорадка (ж) полимерная, лихорадка (ж) фторопластовая eng polymer fume fever fra fièvre (f) des polymères deu Polymerrauchfieber (n) spa fiebre (f) de los polímeros …   Безопасность и гигиена труда. Перевод на английский, французский, немецкий, испанский языки

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”