Summer days are best spent chilling out with family and friends over a sizzling barbecue. The aromas of barbecue can almost engulf the entire neighborhood. However, the smoke that emanates from grilling food can literally harm your skin.
In a study appearing in Environmental Science & Technology, scientists report that skin is a more important pathway for uptake of cancer-causing compounds produced during barbecuing than inhalation. They also found that clothing cannot fully protect individuals from this exposure.
BBQ Linked to Obesity
The practice of holding summer barbeques are being seen as one of the major reasons for the rise of obesity in Britain, a group of health experts warned.
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‘Barbecuing food produces large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that can harm exposed skin.’
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In the U.S., 70 percent of adults own a grill or a smoker, and more than half of them grill at least four times a month, according to the Barbecue Industry Association. But barbecuing produces large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. These carcinogenic compounds can cause respiratory diseases and DNA mutations.
Eating grilled foods is the most common source of PAHs arising from barbecuing. However, according to a previous study by Eddy Y. Zeng and colleagues, bystanders near barbecues were likely exposed to considerable amount of PAHs through skin exposure and inhalation, even if they didn't eat the grilled foods. Building on that study, the team sought to more precisely quantify skin uptake of PAHs from barbecue fumes and particles.
![BBQs Banned to Clear Pollution for Asian Games]( "BBQs Banned to Clear Pollution for Asian Games")
Roadside barbecue stalls will be banned from November 1 to clear up pollution for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, southern China, announced the state media.
The researchers divided volunteers into groups at an outdoor barbecue to provide them with varying degrees of exposure to the food and the smoke. After analyzing urine samples from the volunteers, the researchers concluded that, as expected, diet accounted for the largest amount of PAH exposure.
However, the skin was the second-highest exposure route, followed by inhalation. They say oils in barbecue fumes likely enhance skin uptake of PAHs. The team also found that while clothes may reduce skin exposure to PAHs over the short term, once clothing is saturated with barbecue smoke, the skin can take in considerable amounts of PAHs from them. They suggest washing clothes soon after leaving a grilling area to reduce exposure.
Source: Eurekalert
BBQs Banned to Clear Pollution for Asian Games
Roadside barbecue stalls will be banned from November 1 to clear up pollution for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, southern China, announced the state media.
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The researchers divided volunteers into groups at an outdoor barbecue to provide them with varying degrees of exposure to the food and the smoke. After analyzing urine samples from the volunteers, the researchers concluded that, as expected, diet accounted for the largest amount of PAH exposure.
However, the skin was the second-highest exposure route, followed by inhalation. They say oils in barbecue fumes likely enhance skin uptake of PAHs. The team also found that while clothes may reduce skin exposure to PAHs over the short term, once clothing is saturated with barbecue smoke, the skin can take in considerable amounts of PAHs from them. They suggest washing clothes soon after leaving a grilling area to reduce exposure.
Source: Eurekalert
Cook Your Barbecue Meat in the Oven First, FSA Warns
The FSA is urging anyone planning a barbecue to oven-cook the meat first. The organization has estimated that 280,000 people a year suffer from food poisoning from barbecued food.
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