Polymer fever

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Classification according to ICD-10
J68.0 Bronchitis and pneumonia from chemical substances, gases, smoke and fumes
J68.1 Pulmonary edema from chemical substances, gases, smoke and vapors
J68.2 Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract from chemical substances, gases, fumes and vapors, not elsewhere classified
J68.3 Other acute and subacute diseases of the respiratory system caused by chemical substances, gases, smoke and vapors
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)

Polymer fume fever , also polymer fume fever (Engl. Polymer fume fever ) or Teflon fever (Engl. Teflon flu ) is the name given to a human disease caused by toxic combustion products of fluoropolymers is formed.

Occurrence and causes

Most of the reported cases involve industrial workers, often after smoking contaminated cigarettes. In addition to the eponymous flu-like general symptoms (fever, weakness), irritation of the deep respiratory tract and alveoli leads to breathing difficulties with X-ray signs similar to pneumonia . In severe cases, pulmonary edema can develop; deaths have also been reported.

Poisoning is also possible in the household, especially if Teflon- coated products such as cookware, ovens or irons are improperly handled. If Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) is heated too much, it decomposes into toxic fluorine compounds. There are individual case reports with overheated Teflon pans, as well as with a Teflon-containing release agent spray.

So far, deaths are only known from industrial production, where temperatures are often higher than in the home and dust from these fluoroplastics can also occur. The disease can e.g. B. be recognized as an occupational disease in chemical workers . Because of the risk of fluoropolymers inhaled as dust and decomposed into toxic gases, smoking is prohibited in production areas that use PTFE.

The decomposition fumes from fluoropolymers are also highly toxic to many species of birds. Pet birds kept in the home, such as parrots and canaries, can develop serious neurological and respiratory problems (beaked breathing, jerky tail movements, and audible hoarse breathing), which are usually quickly followed by death.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Alphabetical directory for the ICD-10-WHO Version 2019, Volume 3. German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information (DIMDI), Cologne, 2019, p. 283.
  2. ↑ DJ Shusterman: Polymer fume fever and other fluorocarbon pyrolysis-related syndromes. In: Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.). Volume 8, Number 3, 1993 Jul-Sep, pp. 519-531, ISSN  0885-114X . PMID 8272977 . (Review).
  3. ↑ CH Lee, YL Guo et al. a .: Fatal acute pulmonary edema after inhalation of fumes from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In: The European respiratory journal. Volume 10, Number 6, June 1997, pp. 1408-1411, ISSN  0903-1936 . PMID 9192951 .
  4. ↑ K. Toyama, K. Kimura et al. a .: [Case of lung edema occurring as a result of inhalation of fumes from a Teflon-coated frying pan overheated for 4 hours]. In: Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society. Volume 44, Number 10, October 2006, pp. 727-731, ISSN  1343-3490 . PMID 17087340 .
  5. ↑ M. Son, E. Maruyama et al. a .: [Case of polymer fume fever with interstitial pneumonia caused by inhalation of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)]. In: Chudoku Kenkyu = The Japanese journal of toxicology. Volume 19, Number 3, July 2006, pp. 279-282, ISSN  0914-3777 . PMID 16922460 .
  6. ^ WN Albrecht, CJ Bryant: Polymer-fume fever associated with smoking and use of a mold-release spray containing polytetrafluoroethylene. In: Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association. Volume 29, Number 10, October 1987, pp. 817-819, ISSN  0096-1736 . PMID 3681493 .
  7. ↑ Friedrich More Hoff, Renate Ch Meindl, Gert Muhr. Accident assessment . Walter de Gruyter, January 1, 2005, ISBN 978-3-11-020015-7 , p. 273.
  8. ↑ Michael Fehr: Diseases of pets . Schlütersche, 2008, ISBN 978-3-89993-038-2 , p. 480.
  9. ^ Mattie Sue Athan: Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot. P. 126, Barron's Educational Service. 1993, ISBN 0-8120-4996-9 .

Web links

  • BMA leaflet on occupational disease No. 1308: Diseases caused by fluorine or its compounds , February 25, 1981 (PDF; published in BArbB1 issue 4/1981)