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Bronchiolitis obliterans and consumer exposure to butter-flavored microwave popcorn: a case series

David S Egilman1, John Henry Schilling

  • 1Department of Family Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. degilman@egilman.com

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
|May 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Consumers of butter-flavored microwave popcorn (BFMP) can develop serious lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), from inhaling diacetyl. Simple practices like cooling the popcorn bag can eliminate this risk.

Area of Science:

  • Occupational and environmental health
  • Pulmonary toxicology
  • Consumer product safety

Background:

  • Diacetyl and related alpha-diketones in butter-flavored microwave popcorn (BFMP) are known respiratory hazards for manufacturing workers, causing bronchiolitis obliterans (BO).
  • Previous reports have not documented lung disease in consumers of BFMP.

Observation:

  • A case series of three consumers with biopsy-confirmed BO is presented.
  • Consumer exposure levels to diacetyl were estimated and compared to those of manufacturing workers with lung disease.

Findings:

  • Consumer exposure levels in these cases were comparable to levels known to cause BO in manufacturing workers.
  • No other causes for BO were identified in the affected consumers.
  • The study suggests BFMP poses a significant respiratory risk to consumers.

Implications:

  • Butter-flavored microwave popcorn (BFMP) consumption is linked to bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in consumers.
  • Alternative flavoring chemicals may pose similar risks.
  • Simple consumer actions, such as cooling the popcorn bag before opening, can mitigate the risk of severe lung disease.

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