Burnt toast could be more toxic than TRAFFIC FUMES, scientists warn

The Sun (UK) ^ | February 17, 2019 | Jon Rogers

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Burnt toast can expose people to more pollution than if they were standing at a busy road junction, a study has claimed.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found burnt toast was especially harmful and the safest way was to “go for gold” – allowing the bread to turn a light gold colour.

The team of experts built a mock-up of a three-bed house and equipped it with monitors to assess how everyday activities impacted on air quality.

Roasting and frying can also prove to be toxic, the research found.

Researchers in the US found the least harmful way to make toast was to turn the bread a light golden brown rather than burning it

But researcher Marina Vance said the biggest shock was discovering just what the impact of toasters was.

It was found they sent toxic particles into the air the moment they are switched on, The Times has reported.

Vance said at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: “When you make toast, the heating element starts warming up the debris and gunk in the toaster which includes oils.”

Revealing the early results of the research the assistant professor added: “Add to that the bread itself - it’s going to emit a range of things.

“We found ethanol, a by-product of yeast...If there’s tiny pieces of bread touching the heating element you can see the smoke, maybe from crumbs at the bottom of the toaster - they will all make a lot of particles. It led to what would be considered ‘very unhealthy’ air pollution levels if compared to outdoor air quality standards.”

[Openurmind]

My Wife... And her favorite is burnt Tortillas. She likes “everything” charbroiled. lol

[rktman]

Uh, I will. Some butter and cinnamon sugar...........

[butlerweave]

Put your Toaster outside and you can have all the burnt toast you want and live ,LOL

[DeFault User]

My BIL always asks for burnt pieces of meat at BBQ joints. He had breakfast at my house and put the toaster on the highest setting to burn his bagel. I thought it must be some vitamin or mineral deficiency that caused it, like some folks are compelled to eat clay. :D

[redfreedom]

I disagree with the article. I think fake scientists are more toxic than burnt toast.

[PIF]

We obviously need federal regulation of toasters and must require HEPA particulate filters on them.

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This is where the green new deal comes in - they will have you completely rebuild your residence and ensure that roasters, toasters and fryers are not in your house. Go Vegetarian!

[Flick Lives]

Toast causes global warming, and English Muffins are the AR-15 of the bread world.

[PIF]

What about Waffles, Pancakes, pan or oven browned foods?

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all harmful, eat insects now!

[hal ogen]

These so-called “scientists” are really anti-science, grant-seeking nitwits. That the public in any way financially supports this “research” is a travesty and complete fraud. These intellectual bums should be beaten with their worthless dissertations and thrown out of society. What pathetic wastrels.

[SkyDancer]

I for one am glad they put the warning on the top of the toaster saying: Caution - hot surface. Because, you know, you just might want to touch it for whatever reason. Then too, the warning on frozen food after you nuke it that the product will be hot. Phew. Saved again. I guess labels do work.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

That reminds me. I need to pop some bread in the toaster while I wait for my bacon to get crisp.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Your researcher, Marina Vance :

• PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech
• MS, Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
• BS, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.

"HOMEChem" is the name of the research project. HOMEChem: House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry

The work doesn't seem unreasonable -- identify causes of indoor air pollution.

The HOMEChem experiment is centered around three science questions:

1) What are the sources of chemical oxidants in the indoor environment, and how are they impacted by changes in light conditions and human activities? Examples of chemical oxidants are hydroxyl radicals (OH), nitrate radicals (NO3-), and ozone (O3), which are highly reactive.

2) What are the main sources of organic compounds in the indoor environment? How do human activities lead to changes in the physical and chemical transformation of organic compounds from gaseous state into particulate phase (also known as “secondary organic aerosol”) as well as in other chemical compounds present in minute amounts (also known as trace gas species)?

3)What are the sources of indoor reactive nitrogen species, and to what extent is their presence indoors influenced by outdoor pollution? Experiments

This study took place in June 2018.

A stir fry experiment. Photo: Callie Richmond.

We have chosen a set of experiments that focus on the two most common everyday activities to the air chemistry of indoor environments: cooking and cleaning. These activities are (1) realistic representations of activities performed in indoor environments and (2) likely to drive interesting chemical reactions that can be better understood through this study. The third experimental component of this study relates to occupation: The presence of people in an environment can lead to interesting physical and chemical processes on the surface of clothing and human skin. Additionally, the use of common personal care products and their effect on the chemistry of indoor environments will also be investigated.

We will perform two main categories of experiments:
1) “Sequential experiments,” which consist of performing individual and independent activities to better understand their emissions and effects on the indoor environment. In this scenario, the house will be opened and we will let air circulate to bring down concentrations in between each experiment.
2) “Layered experiments,” which consist of performing cooking and cleaning activities throughout the day (as we would in a normal home situation) to investigate the cumulative effect of their emissions on the air chemistry and to investigate the interactions of emissions (e.g., cooking emissions interacting with cleaning emissions).

[Gort_Klaatu]

I’ve been using the same Black & Decker two-slot toaster that we got for a wedding present 27 years ago. I estimate we’ve prepared 20,000 pieces of toast, muffins, and frozen waffles in that time. “Blackie” doesn’t burn things and it is like a member of the family!

[Flick Lives]

Toast can be deadly.

[chris37]

I think it’s about tiiiime we find out just where these “researchers” are, and we go on down’ere and have us a little talk with these ones always tryin’a “save” our lives ;/

[Mr Radical]

We need to face up to the fact that simply eating is dangerous and we all need to stop eating now to save the planet. I think that’s what David Attenborough says anyhow.

[trisham]

Pica. :) People have funny preferences. Apparently, for a full year as a child I ate nothing but ketchup on white bread.

[moovova]

PLEASE don’t tell the pols...but we had country ham, egg and cheese sammiches ON TOAST last night for supper. The only negative thought that entered my mind during that meal? Muslims will never know this pleasure...

[PeterPrinciple]

This is where Jussie Smollett went wrong. Instead of the noose, he should have claimed he was hit with a toaster.

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no, it was the burnt white toast.................

[Ciaphas Cain]

Pizza is glorified toast. If I burn a pizza in the oven am I polluting myself?