Coffee is what most American workers look forward to in the morning. While beer, as JobsNHire previously reported, is what Americans like to drink after work. However, recent studies show that coffee beans may be hazardous to your health - more specifically, those who work with coffee.
A warning for coffee workers in roasting factories and corner cafes across the country: "Keep your face away from the bins of roasted beans," as reported by Star Advertiser.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 600,000 people nationwide work in the coffee industry. They grind, roast, package and serve coffee. Tests have been conducted to expose the chemical dangers that surrounds coffee workers.
Researchers have found, from a midsize roasting facility in Wisconsin, extremely high levels of two lung-destroying chemicals in the roasting bins. These chemicals are deemed to be hazardous to the health of the workers. They tested the personal air space of each workspace, and also took air samples to measure the chemicals present. The two harmful chemicals are diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. Upon finding the presence of these chemicals, they focused on the ventilation system of the site.
Diacetyl has been tied to the deadly lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans, more commonly known as "popcorn lung" for its association with the many illnesses suffered by microwave popcorn workers in the early 2000s. The chemical's molecular cousin, 2,3-pentanedione, has shown equal toxicity in animal studies.
Both chemicals are known to give flavors to beverages and are safe to ingest. To inhale them, however, is a different story. "There's a large number of workers and the harm is really severe," said NIOSH Director John Howard. A full medical and health evaluation check is advised for the employees on the site and in the industry.
"You have to be proactive and willing to take the necessary steps to protect your workforce," says Howard.
