Key TakeawaysOverheating nonstick pans can release toxic fumes, causing polymer fume fever.Polymer fume fever, or “Teflon flu,” is linked to PTFE, a chemical in nonstick coatings.Long-term exposure to polymer fumes may worsen respiratory conditions.

Key Takeaways

Overheating nonstick pans can release toxic fumes, causing polymer fume fever.Polymer fume fever, or “Teflon flu,” is linked to PTFE, a chemical in nonstick coatings.Long-term exposure to polymer fumes may worsen respiratory conditions.

Polymer fume fever is also known as “Teflon flu,” named after the trademark associated with cookware that features nonstick coatings. Teflon and other brands of nonstick cookware are often made with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a chemical that can release harmful fumes when overheated.

When PTFE is heated to very high temperatures, especially above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it can break into fine particles that can get into the lungs and cause respiratory symptoms, according toKelly Krisna Johnson-Arbor, MD, a medical toxicologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

People who inhale these toxic fumes may develop flu-like symptoms a few hours later. These symptoms, which include fever, chills, coughing, nausea, fatigue, and headaches, usually go away on their own after a day or two without treatment.

“In some people, especially those who have underlying heart or lung disease, for example, those symptoms could become much worse and cause problems,” Johnson-Arbor said.

In 2023, U.S. poison centers recorded 267 suspected cases of polymer fume fever, the highest number of cases since 2000. However, not all cases are related to at-home use of nonstick pans, according toKait Brown, PharmD, DABAT, clinical managing director at America’s Poison Centers. Some cases could be from occupational exposure or other sources, Brown said.

Cases of polymer fume fever are also likely underreported because patients may not associate their flu-like symptoms with PTFE exposure. Even if an association was established, healthcare providers don’t often report cases to poison control centers.

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Are Nonstick Pans Bad for Your Health?

PTFE belongs to a subgroup of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of “forever chemicals” that can increase cancer risk, reduce immune function, and harm the reproductive system.

Studies have shown that heating PTFE coating to high temperatures allows the release of these toxic particles.A2022Consumer Reportsstudyalso revealed that certain nonstick pans labeled as free from PFOAs, a common type of PFAS, still contain the compounds.

Chronic exposure to polymer fumes could also make asthma or other respiratory conditions worse. However, the full extent of the long-term impact of PFAS or polymer fumes is unclear.

“They have not been studied over multiple generations in a lot of cases, and so we don’t necessarily know what the long-term outcome of all these exposures are. So that’s another good reason to discard any cookware or dishware that’s damaged,” Johnson-Arbor said.

If you experience polymer fume fever symptoms, move away from the fume source and drink lots of water. Over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can also help relieve some of the symptoms.

If your symptoms persist and progress to shortness of breath or respiratory distress, you should see a doctor as soon as possible,said Nima Majlesi, DO, a medical toxicologist at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital.

“Most people will tolerate it well. The big thing is, you want to recognize the difference between polymer fume fever and something more serious,” he added.

Take Extra Precautions With Pet BirdsPet birds can become sick or die after being exposed to polymer fumes, even at lower-temperature cooking. Anyone with a pet bird should take extra precautions to ventilate the kitchen and to not overheat nonstick pans.

Take Extra Precautions With Pet Birds

Pet birds can become sick or die after being exposed to polymer fumes, even at lower-temperature cooking. Anyone with a pet bird should take extra precautions to ventilate the kitchen and to not overheat nonstick pans.

How to Use Nonstick Pans Safely

Since you can’t see or smell the toxic fumes, the best way to prevent polymer fume fever is to reserve nonstick pans for lower-temperature cooking, Majlesi said.

Most types of cooking, such as boiling, steaming, and frying, won’t exceed the 500-degree threshold. It’s best to open kitchen windows and use exhaust fans when you’re cooking to avoid inhaling the smoke.

According to the Chemours Company, maker of Teflon, you shouldn’t preheat dry nonstick pans since they can overheat quickly and damage the nonstick coating.Multiple studies have shown that damaged or scratched nonstick cookware can release microplastics into food.

With the right precautions, most people can safely use undamaged nonstick pans. Johnson-Arbor said you can switch to cast iron, silicone, glass, or stainless steel cookware if you want to avoid nonstick coating, but keep in mind that Teflon and its generic equivalent are found in many other household products.

“When you’re using these products, read the packages, know what you’re using, and definitely keep these areas well-ventilated,” Johnson-Arbor said. “Because even though you can’t necessarily see the fumes, they are in the air and they can affect you.”

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What This Means For YouIf you’re using a nonstick pan, keep the cooking temperature below 500 degrees Fahrenheit and ensure good kitchen ventilation. You may consider switching to alternatives like cast iron or stainless steel cookware to avoid exposure to harmful fumes.

What This Means For You

If you’re using a nonstick pan, keep the cooking temperature below 500 degrees Fahrenheit and ensure good kitchen ventilation. You may consider switching to alternatives like cast iron or stainless steel cookware to avoid exposure to harmful fumes.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Missouri Poison Center.Are you at risk of metal fume fever or polymer fume fever?Correia MS, Horowitz BZ.Polymer fume fever. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Environmental Protection Agency.Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS.Cole M, Gomiero A, Jaén-Gil A, Haave M, Lusher A.Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2024;929:172577. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172577Poison Control.Fumes from burning plastic, welding, and “Teflon flu”.Chemours Company.Safety of Teflon nonstick coatings.Luo Y, Gibson CT, Chuah C, Tang Y, Naidu R, Fang C.Raman imaging for the identification of Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics released from non-stick cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2022;851:158293. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158293

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Missouri Poison Center.Are you at risk of metal fume fever or polymer fume fever?Correia MS, Horowitz BZ.Polymer fume fever. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Environmental Protection Agency.Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS.Cole M, Gomiero A, Jaén-Gil A, Haave M, Lusher A.Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2024;929:172577. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172577Poison Control.Fumes from burning plastic, welding, and “Teflon flu”.Chemours Company.Safety of Teflon nonstick coatings.Luo Y, Gibson CT, Chuah C, Tang Y, Naidu R, Fang C.Raman imaging for the identification of Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics released from non-stick cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2022;851:158293. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158293

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Missouri Poison Center.Are you at risk of metal fume fever or polymer fume fever?Correia MS, Horowitz BZ.Polymer fume fever. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Environmental Protection Agency.Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS.Cole M, Gomiero A, Jaén-Gil A, Haave M, Lusher A.Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2024;929:172577. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172577Poison Control.Fumes from burning plastic, welding, and “Teflon flu”.Chemours Company.Safety of Teflon nonstick coatings.Luo Y, Gibson CT, Chuah C, Tang Y, Naidu R, Fang C.Raman imaging for the identification of Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics released from non-stick cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2022;851:158293. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158293

Missouri Poison Center.Are you at risk of metal fume fever or polymer fume fever?

Correia MS, Horowitz BZ.Polymer fume fever. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.

Environmental Protection Agency.Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS.

Cole M, Gomiero A, Jaén-Gil A, Haave M, Lusher A.Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2024;929:172577. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172577

Poison Control.Fumes from burning plastic, welding, and “Teflon flu”.

Chemours Company.Safety of Teflon nonstick coatings.

Luo Y, Gibson CT, Chuah C, Tang Y, Naidu R, Fang C.Raman imaging for the identification of Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics released from non-stick cookware.Sci Total Environ. 2022;851:158293. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158293

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