The results of the study indicate a relationship between working in kitchens and respiratory symptoms.

Naphthalene and mutagenic aldehydes were detected in most of the samples. The levels were variable, and seemed to be dependent on many factors involved in the frying process. However, according to the present results, frying on a gas stove instead of an electric stove causes increased occupational exposure to some of the components in cooking fumes which may cause adverse health effects.

This study investigated the exposure of cooks to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), higher mutagenic aldehydes, total particles, and ultrafine particles during cooking. Experiments were performed by pan frying fresh and smoked bacon on both electric and gas stoves, and with the gas alone. Detailed analyses of PAHs were performed, with analyses of the levels of 32 different PAHs. A TSI-3939 scanning mobility particle sizer system was used to measure the ultrafine particles. The results showed that total PAHs were in the range of 270-300 ng/m(3) air. However, the smoked bacon experiment showed a somewhat different PAH pattern, whereby retene constituted about 10% of the total PAHs, which is a level similar to that of the abundant gas phase constituent phenanthrene. The reason for the elevated retene emissions is unknown. The total cancer risk, expressed as toxic equivalency factors, showed a somewhat higher risk on the electric stove (p < 0.05) compared with the gas stove. Levels of trans, trans-2,4-decadienal were between 34 and 54 μg/m(3) air. The level of total particles was between 2.2 and 4.2 mg/m(3). Frying on a gas stove caused a statistically significant higher amount of ultrafine particles compared with frying on an electric stove. Large variations in the mobility diameter at peak particle concentration were found (74.4 nm-153.5 nm). The highest mobility diameter was found for frying on an electric stove. The gas flame itself showed a maximum production of 19.5-nm-sized particles and could not be the explanation for the difference between frying on the gas stove and frying on the electric stove. No single indicator for the exposure to cooking fume could be selected. Each compound should be measured independently to provide a comprehensive characterization of the cooking exposure.

BackgroundExposure to cooking fumes may have different deleterious effects on the respiratory system. The aim of this study was to look at possible effects from inhalation of cooking fumes on pulmonary function.MethodsTwo groups of 12 healthy volunteers (A and B) stayed in a model kitchen for two and four hours respectively, and were monitored with spirometry four times during twenty four hours, on one occasion without any exposure, and on another with exposure to controlled levels of cooking fumes.ResultsThe change in spirometric values during the day with exposure to cooking fumes, were not statistically significantly different from the changes during the day without exposure, with the exception of forced expiratory time (FET). The change in FET from entering the kitchen until six hours later, was significantly prolonged between the exposed and the unexposed day with a 15.7% increase on the exposed day, compared to a 3.2% decrease during the unexposed day (p-value = 0.03). The same tendency could be seen for FET measurements done immediately after the exposure and on the next morning, but this was not statistically significant.ConclusionIn our experimental setting, there seems to be minor short term spirometric effects, mainly affecting FET, from short term exposure to cooking fumes.

Working as a cook in a Norwegian à la carte restaurant with some manual panfrying involves exposure to components in cooking fumes which may cause adverse health effects. Additional studies are necessary in order to identify relations between exposure levels and the adverse health effects of cooking fumes.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to see if a cook could be exposed to mutagenic aldehydes in fumes from frying of beefsteak using margarine, rapeseed oil, soybean oil or virgin olive oil as frying fat. In addition, levels of particle exposure were measured to make the results comparable to other studies. Methods: The levels of higher aldehydes and total particles were measured in the breathing zone of the cook during the panfrying of beefsteak with the four different frying fats. In addition, the number of particles in the size intervals 0.3-0.5, 0.5-0.7 and 0.7-1.0 mm in the kitchen was registered. Results: Measured levels of mutagenic aldehydes were between non-detectable and 25.33 mg m 23 air. The exposure level of total aerosol was between 1.0 and 11.6 mg m 23. Conclusions: Higher aldehydes were detected in all samples from this study, and mutagenic aldehydes were detected in most of the samples. Frying with margarine gave statistically significantly higher levels of mutagenic aldehydes and particles in all three size fractions than frying with the three different kinds of oil.

The aim of this study was to compare four different kinds of canopy hoods in common use in private Norwegian households, in regard to their ability to protect the cook from exposure to particles from cooking fumes and to reduce the spreading of fume particles in the kitchen. The hoods were tested during pan-frying of beefsteak under different combinations of the following parameters: medium or maximum flow rate in the hood, two different heights above the stove and three different locations in the kitchen. The mass concentration of total particles in the breathing zone of the cook and the number concentration of particles in the size interval 0.3—0.5 μm in the kitchen was measured. To achieve the best possible effect of a kitchen canopy hood under the conditions described, it is best to mount it in a corner with a 60 cm distance to the stove and run it on the maximum flow rate. Also, it is best to install hoods that extract the polluted air out of the house rather than recycling it through a charcoal filter.

Cooking fumes are among the most important sources of indoor fine and ultrafine particles. Exposure to ultrafine particles may cause pulmonary inflammation and enhance allergic reactions, especially in susceptible individuals. Limiting particular exposure caused by cooking may be important for these individuals. In this study, the number concentration of sub-micrometer particles and their spread during and after the frying of beefsteak were measured in a kitchen and the neighboring room. The kitchen was equipped with a modern extraction hood. The level of particles increased rapidly in the kitchen when frying was started regardless of the use of the hood. The sub-micrometer particles spread rapidly to the neighboring room. In both rooms, the main size fraction of the particles was below 0.5 μm. Continuing the extraction for 30 min after the end of frying gave a significantly reduced number of particles in all size fractions in the neighboring room.