Sunday, September 09, 2007

Popcorn Lung: the victim's story



Two senators, union leaders and researchers urged the federal government Friday to set tougher restrictions on a microwave popcorn additive linked to lung disease among factory workers heavily exposed to it.

The chemical diacetyl, used as a butter flavoring in some microwave popcorn, has been linked to serious lung damage in workers who test hundreds of bags per day and inhale their fumes. It also was tied to disease in one consumer who ate microwave popcorn nightly and breathed the steam from freshly cooked bags.

Democratic Sens. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Patty Murray of Washington sent letters on the matter Friday to the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Labor.

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