The smell of buttery microwave popcorn can be intoxicating. But can it also be dangerous?
The question took on new significance recently when a doctor alerted federal regulatory agencies that a Colorado man who ate at least two bags every night for several years had "significant lung disease" similar to that in some microwave popcorn workers.
The illness - the first suspected case in a consumer - was linked to the man's habit of inhaling fumes from extra-buttery microwave popcorn, which contains the chemical diacetyl. The additive gives foods a buttery taste and has been linked to severe lung disease in some microwave popcorn and flavor plant workers.
Dr Cecile Rose, the lung specialist who examined the 53-year-old furniture salesman, says eating microwave popcorn is not dangerous, but what is not yet known is what hazards may be associated with the fumes.
"I would probably urge that people eat it in a way that they are not deeply inhaling the fumes," he said.
Dr Phil Harber, a lung specialist at the University of California-Los Angeles, also says there is not enough information to determine whether there is a "medically significant risk" but said people who eat lots of this kind of microwave popcorn should try to limit exposure when cooking it.
Some major microwave popcorn makers have already made the issue moot: They have eliminated or plan to drop the chemical from their recipes.
Meanwhile, a long-awaited government study that looks at chemical fumes emitted from microwaving popcorn at home - including those containing diacetyl - will be published in a scientific journal in December.
The study, conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency, took nearly three years and was completed in 2006. Some critics have questioned the time lag in making the results public as well as the EPA's decision to share the findings first with popcorn makers.
Questions:
1.What is the name of the chemical that may cause lung disease?
2.How much popcorn did the Colorado man eat per night?
3.Because of the possible risk what have some microwave popcorn makers done?
Answers:
1.Diacetyl.
2.At least two bags.
3.Eliminated or plan to drop diacetyl from their recipes.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
