Microwave Popcorn Lung Disease Caused by Diacetyl

Diacetyl, a chemical that gives microwave popcorn its buttery flavor, has been known to cause a rare lung disease, a form of bronchitis so severe that there is no medical way to reverse it. Affected patients often must have a lung transplant. A recent study done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that lab mice made to inhale diacetyl vapors for three months developed lymphocytic bronchiolitis.

Formerly thought only to affect microwave popcorn factory workers, this serious lung disease got tagged Popcorn Workers Lung. In 2004, the first factory worker to develop the deadly lung condition as a job hazard was awarded $20 million by a jury. 30 or so similar lawsuits followed. Currently, the snack food industry faces over 500 lawsuits filed by workers disabled by Popcorn Workers Lung linked to Diacetyl exposure.

Recently, the first known consumer diagnosed with lung disease from microwave popcorn consumption filed his lawsuit. This opened new suspicions that consumers might also be at risk for developing Popcorn Lung Disease.

Got popcorn lung? If you’ve inhaled a lot of buttery microwave popcorn and are experiencing asthmatic symptoms coupled by fever and night sweats, you might want to ask your doctor about Bronchiolitis Obliterans (or lymphocytic bronchiolitis). Patients are often misdiagnosed with pneumonia, asthma or other lung ailments and must often undergo various breathing tests, chest x-rays, chest scans and lung biopsies before getting the proper diagnosis.