Popcorn addicts risk lethal lung condition, doctors warn
By Leonard Doyle in Washington
Published: 06 September 2007
Popcorn, the favourite snack can cause a potentially fatal health condition known as popcorn workers' lung, an alarmed public is discovering. The link between the man's illness and popcorn was established by Dr Cecil Rose, who had been dealing with popcorn workers' lung for years as a consultant to the food industry.
"His jaw dropped,' she told The New York Times, 'How could you possibly know that about me? I am Mr Popcorn. I love popcorn'," the patient replied. He had eaten buttery microwave popcorn at least twice a day for the past 10 years. When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much," Dr Rose said. "That's heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers' studies is the highest risk."
Synthetic butter or diacetyl inhaled as a vapour has damaged or destroyed the lungs of hundreds of workers in the food industry.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2934349.ece
By Leonard Doyle in Washington
Published: 06 September 2007
Popcorn, the favourite snack can cause a potentially fatal health condition known as popcorn workers' lung, an alarmed public is discovering. The link between the man's illness and popcorn was established by Dr Cecil Rose, who had been dealing with popcorn workers' lung for years as a consultant to the food industry.
"His jaw dropped,' she told The New York Times, 'How could you possibly know that about me? I am Mr Popcorn. I love popcorn'," the patient replied. He had eaten buttery microwave popcorn at least twice a day for the past 10 years. When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much," Dr Rose said. "That's heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers' studies is the highest risk."
Synthetic butter or diacetyl inhaled as a vapour has damaged or destroyed the lungs of hundreds of workers in the food industry.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2934349.ece