It’s not a scoop, cooking with charcoal and wood is harmful to general health, they have been linked to increased risks of cancer, in particular because of the formation of heterocyclic amines, a carcinogenic substance. But a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine on July 29 conducted by researchers from Peking University and Oxford University, reveals that they could also be dangerous for the condition of our eyes, to the point of risking long-term blindness. They would release substances that promote inflammation. So beware of summer barbecues.
3.8 billion affected people on earth
If solid combustions of this type can be associated with the summer period for some, they are daily for many populations around the world. Moreover, the researchers point out that these risky cooking methods affect a total of 3.8 billion people.
Via a database, the China Kadoorie Biobank and questionnaires, they were able to record a certain number of ocular incidents linked to cooking with solid fuels: 1,534 cases of glaucoma were notified, 13,408 cataracts and 4,877 cases of conjunctivitis.
Fine particles and carbon monoxide
The conclusion of the scientists is as follows: using charcoal or wood for cooking regularly makes jump the risk of conjunctivitis by 42%, the risk of cataracts by 17% and the risk of developing a disorder of the sclera, iris cornea and ciliary body by 35% (1583 cases have been recorded), compared to people who cook with gas or electricity.
A risk profile was identified throughout the study. The people most affected by eye problems live in rural areas, are women, rather old, tend to smoke and work in the agricultural world. Moreover, these figures are explained by what I reject the smoke (more than by the injuries due to the dejections of the fire): carbon monoxide and fine particles pose risks to the eye.
Source: Long-term solid fuel use and risks of major eye diseases in China: A population-based cohort study of 486,532 adults, July 29, 2021, PLOS Medicine
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