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A new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed that the mouthwatering smells of cooking food at restaurants, food trucks, and street vendors may actually be harming air quality. Researchers from NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory conducted a multilayered investigation into what they call "underappreciated sources" of urban air pollution. They focused their research on three major cities in the United States: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Boulder.
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The researchers found concerning levels of cooking-related VOCs present in the air of all three cities. This indicates that the aromas and smells released when cooking foods - however pleasant they may seem - are contributing to the formation of urban smog.
If you can identify the smell in the air, it is composed of VOCs, which is the reason for the degraded air quality. There is scope for more research to find the cause and solution of this problem, but for now it is clear that everyday cooking, which is essential, may be the cause of air pollution in the cities, worldwide.
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The research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that they kept detecting high levels of long-chain aldehydes, a type of VOC, that could not be explained by those known sources. Additionally, it is found cities that have a lot of restaurant or street food like Las Vegas, have a poor air quality score, because of the constant cooking, it increases the VOC level.
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This suggests that air pollution generated by cooking is greatly underestimated and may account for up to a quarter of VOCs in urban air, more than previously thought. Cooking fumes contain fine particles and gases like nitrogen oxides that can contribute to smog and health issues. The problem is even worse indoors where ventilation is limited.
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Having robust data on emissions sources is crucial for policymakers to make informed decisions and effectively manage air quality. While further research is needed, identifying cooking as a major pollution source is an important first step toward improving urban air quality and public health.
