Cooking a Sunday roast 'more harmful to health than breathing dirty London air'

Cooking a Sunday roast is more harmful to your health than breathing dirty London air, a study has claimed.

Scientists said cooking the much-loved meal can sky-rocket indoor levels of air pollution and cause people’s homes to be more polluted than some of the busiest cities in the world.

Preparing the meal using gas hobs and roasting can release certain air particles that make household air dirty, researchers said.

Making the Sunday dinner can produce fine soot and tiny organic particles from gas flames, vegetables, oils and fats which send harmful PM2.5 particulates in the home, the Guardian reported.

Tips to reduce indoor pollution

According to HOMEChem, indoor pollution levels can be reduced with basic steps.
Researchers have advised the following:

• Open windows

• Always use an extractor fans

• Keep hobs at the back of the cooker

• Keep your cooker and pans clean of oils

• Keep the heat on as low a temperature as possible

• Boil food on electric hobs

And the levels of PM2.5 particulates is said to be 13 times higher than those measured in central London.

These particles are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause health issues including cardiovascular disease.

The research was conducted by the University of Colorado, in Boulder, by HOMEChem.

Scientists have advised people to open their windows or use extractor hoods while making roast dinners to try and reduce the amount of indoor pollution.