Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act (Diacetyl)
In September 2007, the House of Representatives approved a measure
to prevent workers in food processing plants from getting a
debilitating, irreversible lung disease that has already sickened and
killed a number of workers nationwide.
The
Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act would force the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue rules
limiting workers’ exposure to diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial
food flavoring for microwave popcorn and other foods. Scientists have
linked diacetyl exposure to bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung
disease often known as “popcorn lung.” Despite mounting evidence over
several years of the dangers of popcorn lung, OSHA has failed to take
action to limit diacetyl exposure, prompting the need for the
legislation approved by the House.
Over the past several years, hundreds of workers in popcorn and food
flavoring factories have become ill and several have died from a
serious, irreversible lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans – also known as “popcorn lung.” Many of these affected workers are so sick that they need lung transplants.
Over the past seven years, dozens of studies have linked the artificial butter flavoring chemical diacetyl to the deadly lung disease. Diacetyl is used in microwave popcorn and many other foods.
In
August 2006, Democrats asked the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration to issue an emergency standard to protect workers’
health by limiting their exposure to diacetyl. OSHA refused. More »