Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 15 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 November 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 6 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he has collated on a possible relationship between the creation of toxins from the heating of teflon-coated pans and the onset of polymer fever in humans; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has collated on a possible relationship between the creation of toxins from the heating of Teflon-coated pans and the onset of polymer fever in humans; and if he will make a statement. [133102] Miss Melanie Johnson: `Polymer fume fever' is a term applied to an influenza-like illness associated with the inhalation of products resulting from heating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, marketed under the trade name Teflon) and other fluorocarbon polymers, to temperatures of about 300-450 degrees centigrade. These temperatures are well above those involved in cooking food in non-stick pans. Polymer fume fever is usually a mild and self limiting condition. Almost all reports of this condition relate to occupational exposure. Although the temperatures needed could arise from the misuse of non-stick pans, this does not appear to be a significant problem in practice. There is only one case report in the published literature which attributed these symptoms to exposure to fumes from an unattended cooking pan which overheated (Blandford et al. A case of PTFE poisoning in cockatiels accompanied by polymer fume fever in the owner. Vet Record v.96 175-6 (1975)).

Secondary information