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Is Exposure To Grey Haze From A Micro Oven Harmful?

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Posted on Tue, 14 Jun 2016
Question: Hello, I'm a 45 year old male. No medications or known health issues. about 144 lbs, 5'6". I was heating up a sandwich in a metal pie tin type container in the oven at about 410 degrees. there was some plastic wrap on the bottom that I didn't see. It began to emit very bad smelling plastic fumes. Not black smoke but a grey haze. I saw a big drop of melted plastic inside the oven. ventilated the house. I can still smell it but no smoke haze. Have I experienced a dangerous exposure in this instance? If I'm still smelling it, am I compounding my exposure?
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (45 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
no problem probably

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

it doesn't really sound like a serious exposure. Airing out the house should suffice to manage the situation. Make sure you dispose all the remnants because they will continue to produce nasty smell. Some plastics may contain unhealthy materials like cyanides and I couldn't possibly know what this particular piece was made of but such a small quantity shouldn't pose serious problems.

So in conclusion, I don't believe that your situation is worrisome. Just make sure you remove the smell by airing out the house and removing all the smelly remnants. Unless you develop symptoms, there is nothing more you can do right now. Avoiding further exposure (just in case) is recommended of course.

Kind Regards!

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3817 Questions

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Is Exposure To Grey Haze From A Micro Oven Harmful?

Brief Answer: no problem probably Detailed Answer: Hello, it doesn't really sound like a serious exposure. Airing out the house should suffice to manage the situation. Make sure you dispose all the remnants because they will continue to produce nasty smell. Some plastics may contain unhealthy materials like cyanides and I couldn't possibly know what this particular piece was made of but such a small quantity shouldn't pose serious problems. So in conclusion, I don't believe that your situation is worrisome. Just make sure you remove the smell by airing out the house and removing all the smelly remnants. Unless you develop symptoms, there is nothing more you can do right now. Avoiding further exposure (just in case) is recommended of course. Kind Regards!