Popcorn Lung:
Are microwave popcorn fumes dangerous?
Breathing the steam from a just-opened bag of popcorn may be hazardous to your health. “Popcorn Lung” is a rare and life-threatening disease also known as bronchiolitis obliterans and comes directly from the chemical Diacetyl. Bronchiolitis Obliterans is chronic scarring of the lung’s airways and the life-threatening disease not respond to normal medications.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that cases of sever lung disease among workers in popcorn factories who breathed butter flavors which contain the chemical diacetyl. Animal studies conducted by NIOSH showed that diacetyl in popcorn butter flavoring was highly toxic to the airways of rats.
In lawsuits by workers at factories using artificial butter flavoring the workers have alleged that their exposure to butter flavor mixtures have resulted in damage to their respiratory systems in the form of asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic bronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and severe lung impairment.
Popcorn flavoring contains the chemical diacetyl, which has been linked to lung damage in factory workers testing hundreds of bags of microwave popcorn per day and inhaling its fumes. The chemical is a naturally occurring compound that gives butter its flavor and is also found in cheese and even wine, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Many different types of butter flavoring are used in products from snack cakes to candy to frozen foods. NIOSH is concerned that workers in some of these industries may be at risk for lung damage as well. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association said that there is no risk from eating the microwave popcorn.
