Toasting bread and turkey roasts release dangerous level of "fine particles" that can cause serious health hazards: Study
A burnt toast could expose people to more toxic air than if they were standing on a busy road, a new research has concluded. Furthermore, it was found that cooking a Sunday roast can raise pollution levels way above those in city centers.
Pollutant levels after cooking a roast turkey were 13 times higher than those in central London, experts found, Daily Mail reports.
The study also indicated that toasting two slices of bread caused twice as much air pollution seen in the city for 15 to 20 minutes, equivalent to three times the safety limit set by the World Health Organisation.
In order to avoid exposure to dangerous levels of toxic airborne particles, experts issued a public warning to families to open windows and turn on exhaust fans while cooking. Prolonged exposure to these particles beyond a point can trigger breathing problems and increase the risk of heart disease, they said.
Researchers at the University of Colorado conducted an experiment to measure pollution levels in a 1,200sq ft home rigged up with advanced sensors. They found that fats burned during cooking as well as fumes from gas hobs that lingered for around an hour after use were particularly detrimental to one's health.