Do we really need artificial butter flavourings that cause bronchiolitis in those making them?

Popcorn lung has been a little controversial. Diacetyl is the prime suspect for the bronchiolotis described in popcorn flavourers, but many other exposures may have confounded the results. A new study of chemical workers making diacetyl in the Netherlands with few (and different) confounding exposures found four more workers with bronchiolitis, previously diagnosed as asthma or COPD. 3 cases had excellerated rates of FEV1 decline measured at work, and in one the exposure was short.

References

	van Rooy FGBGJ, Rooyackers JM, Prokop M, Houba, R Smit LAM, Heederik DJJ, Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome in Chemical Workers Producing Diacetyl for Food Flavorings, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2007;176:498-504,

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