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

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.

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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.

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 told 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.”

Other pollutants included cleaning agents, especially household sprays, and air-purifiers which give off scents when plugged in to a socket.

Scented candles and wood-burning stoves were also found to be powerful polluters.

Other research recently published in the academic journal Atmosphere measured just how bad some of the pollutants were.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends air should contain no more than 25 micrograms of fine particulates.

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The research found that when bread was turned golden brown particle concentrations in the surrounding air surge to between 300 and 400 micrograms per cubic metre.

When toast was allowed to turn dark brown, then the particle levels soared to 3,000-4,000 micrograms per cubic metre, up to more than 150 times the WHO limit.

The Marylebone Road in central London, which has one of highest levels of pollution in the country, was double the limit of 200 micrograms on 38 occasions in 2017, according to figures from King's College London.

Jonathan Grigg, a professor who chairs a committee which is currently investigating indoor air pollution in the UK, said: “This research could be a wake-up call to the risks posed by toasting and toasters.”

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