According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung disease in people who make flavorings to produce microwave popcorn may be related to the inhalation of high concentrations of the chemicals in the flavorings. This lung disease is known as bronchiolitis obliterans and may present with symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing with exertion and cough. While lung disease related to this type of exposure is rare, symptoms can be serious and there is no known cure for this disease.
Background
Bronchiolitis obliterans is a type of obstructive lung disease in which the smallest airways of the lungs, or bronchioles, become scarred. The scarring of the airways blocks the movement of air in and out and makes breathing difficult. According to National Jewish Health, this scarring can be caused by breathing in irritant fumes such as chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and diacetyl. Diacetyl is a chemical used to provide butter flavor in many foods including butter-flavored popcorn. Other potential causes of bronchiolitis include infections and certain medications that are used in organ transplantation.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bronchiolitis obliterans are variable but can include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing with exertion. Lung disease typically occurs only with prolonged exposure to the irritant, so workers involved in microwave popcorn plants or flavoring plants have the highest risk. However, people who eat large amounts of microwave popcorn may also be at risk. Unlike many environmental exposures, your symptoms are likely to be present even when you are not exposed to diacetyl. Symptoms often worsen over time and may include fever, night sweats and weight loss.
Diagnosis
If you are concerned about lung disease related to diacetyl exposure, lung function testing can help you determine whether lung damage has occurred. Spriometry is a type of lung function test that measures how well you move air out of your lungs and can demonstrate obstruction if your airways are scarred. Imaging of your lungs may demonstrate thickening of the airway walls and a biopsy of your lungs may show evidence of narrowing in your small airways.
Treatment
Permanently removing yourself from exposure to microwave popcorn or flavoring vapors is the most important treatment. Repeated exposure can further damage your lungs and aggravate your condition if lung damage has already occurred. You may notice improvement in your symptoms once you are no longer exposed to diacetyl for an extended period of time. In severe cases that do not improve, you may need to be placed on a lung transplant list. Medications that improve asthma symptoms such as albuterol may help, particularly if your symptoms predominantly consist of wheezing and cough.
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