Microwave Popcorn: Proof it Really Can Cause a Lung Disease

People all over the world eat buttery, tasty, and salty microwave popcorn. Made by several companies, its on the shelves of all of the major supermarkets, but is it healthy? Many people are devoted to its taste, its convenience, and the fact that it is void of all trans fats. But you know what they say about too much of a good thing. It's hard to believe sometimes, but you really can have too much. A man who really liked popcorn has been diagnosed with a lung disease similar to that experienced by some workers in popcorn factories.

Diacetyl is the name of the chemical in butter popcorn flavoring that has been known to cause what is called "popcorn lung." When popcorn lung occurs, the tiny airwaves known as the bronchials become blocked by inflammation and scar tissue. A person then becomes unable to blow air out of their lungs. Many workers in popcorn factories who have been exposed to the chemical's fumes for long periods of time have either died from popcorn lung or had to have lung transplants.

For a long time, the use of diacetyl was unregulated. As a result, workers in popcorn factories had no idea that they were being exposed to a very harmful chemical. Only now, after some ill workers have been doing a lot of suing, are the regulations starting to come about for the amount of diacetyl that workers can be exposed to during a given day. Nothing is in place yet, but the higher-ups are definitely aware that a need is there.

Even though diacetyl is a problem for workers in popcorn factories, consumers just found it hard to believe that they could suffer a similar fait. An ABC report talks about the life of Wayne Watson, popcorn fanatic. He consumed approximately two bags of microwave popcorn daily, but now he has stopped doing so because of the problems he was having with his lungs. Watson had all of the symptoms of "popcorn lung." An industrial hygienist was sent to Watson's home and found a startling discovery in his microwave. There were levels of diacetyl that were similar to the one's found in microwave popcorn factories.

Watson is a good example for people who are in love with popcorn as a snack. However, if you find that you still can't shake your cravings for this fiber filled smell-good snack, you might want to check out the Indiana-based Weaver Popcorn Company. It became the very first popcorn company to make a public announcement that it was taking diacetyl out of its product.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=3565670&page=1