Popcorn Worker’s Lung Revisited

Remember Anne’s post about Popcorn Lung? Basically it is a damaging lung disease (bronchiolitis obliterans) caused by repeated exposure to diacetyl - a synthetic chemical that gives microwave popcorn its buttery flavor.

Creepy, yes, but likely only to affect those who actually work in an industrial setting that uses diacetyl. Until now. A massive labor union in the US, representing hotel, restaurant, and kitchen workers, has asked that butter and margarine manufacturers stop using diacetyl after an investigation by the The Seattle Post Intelligencer revealed that cooks using oils flavored by the chemical were exposed to levels similar or even higher than popcorn workers. Ew.

You’d think this meant DOOM for the likes of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.” I mean Fabio wouldn’t be HALF as sexy with a persistent and aggravated cough, would he? The House of Reps in the US passed a bill last September that would limit workers exposure to diacetyl, but Bush said he’d veto it cause there wasn’t enough science to back up the claim. Cool.