Ever heard of popcorn lungs? It is rare condition that leads to serious and irreversible damage to the lungs. Known as bronchiolitis obliterans, the disease damages your lungs’ smallest airways and makes you cough and feel short of breath.
According to experts, it’s sometimes caused by breathing in a chemical used to flavor microwave popcorn. However, other chemicals or lung illnesses can also cause popcorn lung.
What are the causes of popcorn lungs?
Diacetyl, a buttery-flavored chemical in foods like popcorn, caramel and dairy products, when inhaled can lead to bronchiolitis obliterans. According to reports, when workers at a factory that packaged microwave popcorn were found to have bronchiolitis obliterans more often than other people, some companies stopped using diacetyl as a flavoring.
However, it’s still used in some electronic cigarette flavors in the US. Many e-cigarette makers state they aren’t using this chemical in their products and its use in e-cigarettes is banned in Europe.
Another common cause is acetaldehyde, a chemical found in the smoke from marijuana and some electronic cigarettes.
Other chemicals that can cause popcorn lung include:
- Metal oxide fumes, a common byproduct of welding
- Formaldehyde, a cancer-causing chemical used in some glues and building materials
- Sulfur dioxide, a pollutant released by burning fossil fuels
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
- Nitrogen oxides
- Hydrochloric acid
- Sulfur mustard, a chemical weapon known as “mustard gas”
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of popcorn lungs include:
- dry cough
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or wheezing without an obvious reason
How to treat popcorn lungs?
Treatments for popcorn lung may include:
- Corticosteroids to fight inflammation, such as prednisone.
- Inhalers to help with breathing, such as those with albuterol.
- Oxygen therapy.
- Lung transplant, but this is recommended only in the most severe and extreme circumstances.