Apparently, There is Such a Thing as Too Much Popcorn!

Despite popular belief, there can be such a thing as too much popcorn. Just ask Wayne Watson, a man who has been diagnosed with a rare lung disease.

Wayne Watson was diagnosed with a disease some call "Popcorn Lung". Popcorn Lung has gotten its name from its tendency to be found in workers or former workers of popcorn factories who use artificial butter flavorings for their popcorn. It is allegedly caused by repeated inhalation of a chemical commonly found in popcorn flavorings.

The chemical called diacetyl is part of what gives butter its flavor, and is found in large amounts in artificial popcorn flavorings. According to officials, repeated inhalation may be the cause of "Popcorn Lung", although studies are still in the works.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans, or Popcorn Lung, is a rare and life threatening disease. It is known to be caused by repeated exposure to noxious gases. Apparently, most of the people who contract it are workers or former workers in the popcorn business.

Wayne Watson is the first ever non-popcorn industry worker to be diagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans. He says that it is because he has had two bags of popcorn a day for ten years. Every time he makes a bag of popcorn, he takes a big whiff of the smell that emanates from the bag. Wayne is convinced that his mass consumption of microwave popcorn is at fault.

Because of this repeated exposure, he started having breathing problems. The symptoms of Bronchiolitis Obliterans include mild to severe coughs, and shortness of breath. In some severe cases, it can also inflict fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. He started using many medications, inhalers, and other treatments to try and cure this disease.

He didn't know that he had Bronchiolitis Obliterans until he went to see Dr. Cecile Rose, of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver. Dr. Rose, a lung specialist, took a complete history, including an environmental history, and a work history, and it was not until she asked Wayne about the possibility of him being around a large amount of popcorn that she was able to figure out his problem.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans is a life threatening disease. It is dangerous enough that several people who have been afflicted by it have been placed on lung transplant lists.

Between 1992 and 2000, there have been eight different cases of Bronchiolitis Obliterans in former workers from the Glister-Mary Lee plant in Jasper, Missouri.

ConAgra Inc has declared that it plans to phase out flavorings using diacetyl for the safety of its workers. ConAgra makes the popular Act II and Orville Redenbacher brands of microwave popcorn.

Wayne is recovering greatly, having lost weight, and has regained his breathing capacity. His prognosis looks good at this time.