Cooking with charcoal is one of the most dangerous cooking methods due to the high risk of lung damage and death from subsequent respiratory diseases. This was uncovered by scientists from the University of Iowa and the University of California, San Diego, who presented their findings at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. The research is briefly described by Science Daily.
According to experts, inhalation of harmful substances generated during cooking using wood and dry shrubs leads to the death of about four million people a year. Researchers studied the effects of biomass-burning toxins in 23 people who cooked indoor food with LPG or wood in India.
Scientists measured the concentration of pollutants in homes, and also assessed the lung function of study participants using methods such as spirometry (measures the volume of air inhaled and the rate of respiration). It turned out that those who cooked from woody biomass were exposed to higher concentrations of pollutants and bacterial endotoxins compared to consumers of LPG. They also had a significantly higher level of air congestion in the lungs, which indicates a violation of gas exchange.
The authors of the work recommend minimizing the effect of smoke on the respiratory system. Those who are exposed to biomass combustion products for a long time should have their lung function checked by a doctor in order to notice and repair damage in time.