The number 1,000 times more toxic than phosgene came from an old manufacturers data safety sheet for raw Fluon plastic pellets for extrusion, molding etc. The number is excessive but I guess they wanted to make a point about safety.

The actual LC 50 ( lethal concentration exposure limit for one hour ) for PFIB is 500 parts per billion . Phosgene LC 50 is 75 parts per million. Both cause death in one hour or less in Rats. Another reference suggests Phosgene LC 50 at 50 ppm/ 5 minutes and PFIB LC 50 at 0.01 ppm/ 5 minutes.
At any rate it’s going to kill you.

Yes a Teflon pan can be heated to 800 degrees F. and in an oven under some broilers a temperature of 1500 degrees F. can be achieved . Heating and thermal decomposition of all Fluoropolymers should be avoided.

Best regards to all

With PVC, Hydrochloric acid is one of many products of combustion, not to mention the vaporized vinyl and phosgene gases. With out full faced self-contained breathing apparatus your lungs are toast.

Teflon coated electrical wire and cable is even more dangerous. In a fire the most dangerous product is Perfluoroisobutylene. This gas is one thousand times more lethal than phosgene.

Best regards,

Anthony Vincent Samsel

Food and drink containers, mattresses, carpeting, clothing, electronics and a host of other consumer products are loaded with this dangerous flame retardant system.

In the early seventies I worked on a project at Arthur D Little, Inc. Cambridge , MA. where this flame retardant system was developed. In 1969 NASA lost an Astronaut team in a tragic launch pad fire. NASA awarded ADL a contract to develop a flame retardant system for space clothing.

The flame retardant system comprising Decabromodiphenylether and Antimony trioxide was added to Spandex to fire proof space clothing. It was never intended to be in worldwide use as we new it’s toxicity. The heads of Product Development at ADL ignored my concerns about it’s safety. Their only focus was to solve NASA’s problem with space clothing.

Shortly thereafter the flame retardant system was marketed to the plastics industry and other manufacturing sectors of private industry including the National Fire Protection Agency.
This flame retardant system contains up to 60% Antimony trioxide and is a known endocrine system disruptor.

Liver, Kidney, Bladder, Lung diseases, sexual dysfunction and an inability to metabolize fat are associated with these materials.
A laboratory study on mice found that ingesting this flame retardant system inhibited the metabolism of fat causing obesity. Test animals increased fatty tissue from exposure and gained weight.

Interesting is a look at the world consumption of Antimony Trioxide from the mid to late 1970’s (when this flame retardant system was introduced ) to the present. A graph of millions of tons of Antimony Trioxide shows a continuous upward curve that is similar to the obesity curve for the same time period.

Virtually all plastics contain this flame retardant system. Liquids packaged in plastic become contaminated from the Antimony Trioxide & PBDE’s. Water bottles, juice drinks, milk, cooking oils, cans lined with plastic, mayo, salad dressings etc.
WARNING: these materials are bio-cumulative and should be avoided.
Best regards and good health to all,
Anthony Samsel retired Hazardous Chemical Materials Consultant for Arthur D. Lttle, Inc.