Teflon Poisoning Outdoors?

[Michael]

Now that I'm keeping Truman outside in the aviary longer, I've developed a concern about possible toxic fumes from neighboring houses. Tell me, is he in any danger of such fumes or by the time they escape someone's house are they diluted enough not to pose a threat?

Say someone has a teflon pan on fire and an open window... the nearest house is probably 20 feet away, most neighboring houses are 50-200 feet away. Do these kinds of fumes rise or sink? Should I be concerned or does everything spread fast enough outside not to be a problem?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I think it gets diffused pretty quickly and that an aviary just outside the house or apartment is probably no riskier than an open window. But I don't know how far from the source you have to be before the exposure is negligible.

However, if this was a big risk factor, you'd think you'd find dead birds piled up around certain houses... wild birds don't seem to be noticibly affected by PTFE coatings.

[Natacha]

I don't think I would worry too much about it, being outside.
If I were you, I'd keep a close check and if at one point anything smells weird (let's say there happens to be a fire a block or so away), I'd bring the birds in.

[Rue]

I wouldn't be overly concerned either...

But I wonder sometimes...we have an older model diesel truck, and when it's running (to warm up, or if we're using it beside the house)...I sure can smell it in the house, even in the winter with the doors and windows all closed...

[Mr.Darcy]

I concur.
Though recently there was a train car with Sulphur on fire in West Vancouver and people were instructed to close the windows and doors. I couldn't help but wonder if there were any pet birds in the area. I assume the wild ones would fly to a safe distance.