'Popcorn lung': Wayne Watson wins $7.2m in US court

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

A US man has been awarded $7.2m (£4.4m) in damages after claiming he developed "popcorn lung" from inhaling the artificial butter in microwave popcorn.

A Colorado jury agreed with Wayne Watson that a popcorn manufacturer should have had warning labels that the bag's fumes were dangerous to inhale.

Defence lawyers argued that Mr Watson's problems stemmed from years of working with carpet-cleaning chemicals.

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"Popcorn lung" is a form of irreversible obstructive lung disease that scars the lung and makes it difficult for air to flow out.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19657878

[Violentwombat]

1. I'm all for holding companies with dangerous products liable...

but really, how much freaking microwave popcorn was this guy eating?

I have a feeling this one is a slam dunk for appeal.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Seeing as though you apparently know the specifics and science of the case,

... you tell us how much popcorn and exposure to Diacetyl (the artificial flavoring in the not-butter) is required before one develops Bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung).

I haven't seen any figures on how many times one has to inhale that known dangerous chemical used to "flavor" popcorn "butter" but you seem to have some inside knowledge of why this case will be a "slam dunk" on appeal.

[ronnie624]

5. No exposure limits have been established,

but there is a growing body of evidence on the toxicity of diacetyl. Osha is being urged to establish regulations for airborne exposure.

It's funny how anonymous internet posters try to second-guess a jury, even though they haven't heard any of the evidence.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. I wonder if this will rank up there with the "McDonald's Coffee Case"

[ronnie624]

7. For poeple who won't bother to get the facts, you can count on it.

That poor woman's story was indeed tragic.

[harmonicon]

18. Oh, yeah, microwave popcorn is a deadly affliction. It must be stopped at all costs. (nt)

[christx30]

21. From another source:

He ate 2 bags per day for 10 years.

[ronnie624]

22. Therefore he deserves to be exposed to a chemical that causes lung disease?

Your logic is elusive, to say the least.

[christx30]

23. I never said anything like that

You asked a question, and I answered it.
I never said anything about whether he deserved it or not. But I don't think he deserved the money. Shit happens. Sometimes it's not anyone's fault.

[marble falls]

2. Just gotta agree with you. What about all the carpet cleanning chemicals?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. One would assume the attorney for the defendant proposed that idea to the jury.

The disease the plaintiff was diagnosed with is a very specific disease requiring invasive testing to diagnose.

Diacetyl is know to cause this disease. I assume the science wasn't there to show the carpet cleaning chemicals also cause this very specific disease.

[SemperEadem]

8. I don't put my face in a bag of microwaved popcorn because of the steam inside

don't the labels say to wait about a minute before opening because the contents are extremely hot?

[Arugula Latte]

9. I'm glad he got damages, but I wouldn't eat that stuff.

That's supposedly some of the least healthy food you can put in your body.

[ronnie624]

10. Popcorn is high in fiber and low in calories if you don't add butter,

but I don't like the hulls getting stuck between my teeth, and I don't like the way the microwave crap smells.

[Arugula Latte]

13. Right -- "real" popcorn is good. I eat that a lot.

But that microwave stuff scares the hell out of me.

[Blue_Tires]

19. +1

[4th law of robotics]

11. First world problems

[CreekDog]

12. Lung Disease is a 1st world problem? What the hell?

what a ridiculous comment.

[4th law of robotics]

14. Lung disease?

No.

Popcorn lung specifically? Yes.

Imagine one of those ads for aid to African families with the voice over: this young girl was left an orphan after popcorn lung claimed her entire family.

Try to do it.

[CreekDog]

15. "a rare and life-threatening form of non-reversible obstructive lung disease"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchiolitis_obliterans

you made an ignorant comment and because of the word "popcorn".

and you're quite proud of it.

again, ridiculous.

[4th law of robotics]

16. No, you're scouring the web

looking for things to be offended by.

Hence your need to pretend that "popcorn lung" is a problem anywhere other than the first world.

And it's particularly silly because you've now been forced to pretend I said all lung disease is a first world problem even though to even the most casual observer it is obvious that this is not the case.

You should probably just go ahead and alert so we can get that out of the way.

/world killers in no particular order: war, infectious disease, popcorn lung, cancer, famine . . .

[ronnie624]

17. There are a growing number of factories in 'third world countries'

(mostly to escape labor and environmental regulation). Maybe research of this issue in the U.S. will help them too.

[CreekDog]

20. Better Microwave Popcorn:

coat some popcorn with a little canola oil, stirring it up in a bowl or cup.

put the popcorn into a paperbag that is folded securely at the end.

cook it in the microwave just like microwave popcorn.

I think it tastes better than the manufactured stuff and is almost as easy.

to get rid of the unpopped kernels, open just a corner of the bag and shake until they all fall out.