Popcorn Lung
Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from the buttery flavouring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to U.S. federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.
A pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center has written to federal agencies to say doctors there believe they have the first case of a consumer who developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years.
I’ve heard of this condition before, and have avoided microwave popcorn ever since, even though at the time it was assured that only someone exposed to the high concentrations of fumes in the factories making the stuff would be in danger of coming down with the condition.
Granted, this guy was consuming rather large amounts of said popcorn, but I have a feeling once they actually get around to really studying this issue and not just taking the industries word for it, they’ll find that lower concentrations can cause damage over the long-term.
Convenience sounds great, but we pay a pretty high price for it sometimes.
