Breathing in the wrong fumes
 

So I had some water boiling in a pan (or kettle or whatever you call them). Forgot they were there. Sat here browsing TFP. All the water evaporated. Realized what was happening when I smelled something funky. The pan looks alright, but there is an odd smell in the air, and I feel not so fantastic. Does anyone know what these pans are made out of (that stuff that begins with an F, i think) and how healthy it is to breathe in?

Could we get a brandname on that pan/kettle?

umm. teflon, maybe, no i don't think it is great to breathe but i doubt if it will kill you . . . .today

Overheating a teflon pan can produce vapors that can kill a captive bird. If you own a bird, don't own telfon pans ;)

But, hey, if it can kill a bird who knows, it could hurt you?

-SF

Isn't the dead bird proof of poisonous gas? I thought that was the poisonous gas test for miners and spelunkers back in yonder olden days. They brought down a bird and if the bird died they knew they were breathing in toxic gas.

What can kill a tiny bird won't necessarily kill a person. I mean, those lil canary's are so small. Besides, if a teflon pan kills you by it's vapors, you have a lot more to worry about than birds.

Assuming you weren't in a tiny tiny enclosed room with the pan and no ventilation, I'd assume you are probably ok.

The miners brought canaries down to tell when they'd hit a pocket of natural gas didn't they? I wouldn't say that because that was an indicator here it is absolutely an indicator here as well. Different gas means different results. It may be poisonus to the bird but harmless to a human.

Then again, it could be extremely toxic and you should GET OUT OF THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW ;)

if it's a cast-iron pan and it is relatively new... there is a chance that it is burning off some impurities. Cast-iron cookware takes a while to "cure."

It's called Farberware Nonstick Cookware or something like that.

Amazing how much punishment that thing took and still looks normal...

Probably right about the impurities...weird smell tho.

Oh well, I'm alive so I guess it couldn't have been too deadly. Thanks, folks, for the replies.

I did that same thing. Except somehow a pot of oil on the burner also, caught fire. And almost burned my hosue down.