Hey all, I know this is off topic but wanted it visible so I could get the widest audience. I've often wondered when mixing icing and seeing clouds of PS waft into the air if it's bad for my lungs. Any answers? Thanks!!

Arainna Forth

I am not sure of the answer, but I wouldnt see why it would be. If we eat it why would it affect our lungs?..But would be interesting to see if someone knows the answer.
Edna

I am curious about that also. I too see the CLOUDS!! I dont think it could be good after a while. Would probably create a buildup in lungs.

I don't know about powdered sugar, but a friend of mine who used to work in a pizza shop as a teenager, and then bought it as an adult developed serious lung problems and his respiratory dr. blamed all the inhaled flour. He never smoked, had no other factors that could have contributed.

don't know about your lungs - but HORRIBLE for your teeth - flour dust too... brush your teeth often....

There is an owner of a bulk cake supplies store...he inhaled too much flour dust and is now allergic to wheat.

This is an interesting question. I've often wondered about this. It would make sense that our bodies would adsorb it. I suppose in large quantities it could be dangerous. If for example you were in a closet and a bag or two exploded.

ETA: MSDS Sheet:
http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/envhealth/MSDS/chemistry/S/Sucrose.html

One way to cut down on powdered sugar dust is to lay a damp towel over your mixer when you turn it on. The towel catches most of the dust and it help keep the mess down too!

Yes, actually it is. I developed what's known as "Baker's Asthma" from all the flour, sugar and dusts I've inhaled". Just as you can get 'drunk' from airbrushing alcohol, you can have lung problems from inhaling these fine powders. I can always tell when I've had a heavy week of mixing because my chest feels tighter and heavier.

Airbrushing dusts is actually worse because the inhaled particles are smaller.

It's best to wear a mask.

The question is how much you have to inhale to be bad for the lungs?
Edna

I always say it makes me sweeter! My hubby doesn't buy it though! LOL

After atcake mentioned it...I looked it up. It doesn't have anything to do with how much...it is a repetitive thing.

Here are a few links:
http://www.ohcow.on.ca/resources/handbooks/asthma/bakersasthmafactsheet.pdf
http://www.bakersjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=595
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/occupational_health/sensor_lung_disease_bulletins/jan99.pdf

Here is a MSDS sheet for powdered sugar from Australia. It makes it sound pretty benign. Although my Dr. has warned me about chronic exposure. He had a patient who was a decorator who had something like white lung, which occurs from repeat exposure to chemicals or fumes. I try to remember to wear a mask because it tends to make me wheeze and feel stuffy.

[quote="diamondsonblackvelvet13"]This is an interesting question. I've often wondered about this. It would make sense that our bodies would adsorb it. I suppose in large quantities it could be dangerous. If for example you were in a closet and a bag or two exploded.

Let me take this opportunity to chime in. I've been thinking about this for some time. In addition to lungs I wonder what affect it has on diabetics? I mean do we absorb the sugar in the icing through our skin as well as our lungs? It sure would explain elevations in blood sugars that are not otherwise explained. Has anyone thought about blood sugar absorption?

We joke about this in my classes, that we all will die from PSI (powdered sugar inhalation But, I think to much of anything is not a good thing. Wearing a mask is a good idea if you are inhaling it a bunch. I try to hold my breath a bit.... really not sure how much that works

Jen

I also learned that anything that recirculates air sucks in the powdered sugar. So, when you fridge is blowing cold air in to the freezer, it is sucking in the air from your kitchen. My son got some ice once and said it tasted sweet. I checked and sure enough it was sweet. I threw it all out and got a filter.

Edited to say:

And I do cover my mixer when making icing. We can't see all of
what gets through the fabric.

this is weird but today they had on the Dr.s that kids are taking those smartee candies, crushing them up and inhailing them so smoke comes out of their mouth, one kid said just something dumb to do. they said that it can cause lung problems, sinus, what will the kids think of next. better than drugs. stupid but better

I don't know about the rest of you, but sometimes when powdered sugar gets in the air I really get the feeling that my heart is racing and I'm on a sugar high. Of course it could just be the excitement of decorating but I've been assuming that once it gets to your lungs, the sugar can more easily enter your bloodstream.

Any medical professionals out there? Could this really be what's happening or am I just imagining it?

jennicita

I always turn on the fan under the stove when I am using PS. That way it gets sucked outside. I do cover the bowl with a towel.

TRUE STORY: I run a licensed bakery out of my home. We had a tv that was one of the newer ones that has a fan running it. When business picked up and I started to bake every single day.. we noticed our tv was cutting off by itself. Just random times of the day not even when I was doing anything with the mixer. The tv repair guy opened it up and guess what.... white dust was covering the inside of the tv.

Our AC filters have to be replaced quite often also. You can see the dust of PS on it. And this is still with running the fan above the stove and covering the bowl!!!

SO, could you imagine what we are inhaling..

I'm not sure but as far as I recall, there was a show of which it showed people how they died. There were two people who was in an enclosed room. They were playing with bags of cocoa powder just like a pillow fight and they unknowingly inhaled it...eventually they died.

Not sure if it applies to powdered sugar.

The disease is called white lung, and it comes from chronic inhalation of powder dusts that can be suspended in the air during use, i.e. flour, powdered sugar, chalk, baby powder, etc.

And yes, you can die from it.

Theresa

Only if your PS is from Columbia!! hehehe! J/K! I just had to say it!! I'm gonna start wearing a mask from now on!

Thanks for all the great comments. Glad to know I'm not the only one who has thought about this. I think the damp towel over the mixer is a great idea. If I start baking super frequently, I'll wear a mask.

I have been thinking about this alot lately. I had been noticing symptoms like I had when I smoked a pack a day. (I quit over a year ago) I just attributed it to being fat.

I know that Earlene Moore has designed a booth for airbrushing. It has a ventilation system complete with filter. Do y'all think that this might work for mixing BC as well?

Here is what I mean:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/AirbrushCabInst.html

Being a nurse, I know your respiratory system has alot of "built in" safety factors to help protect your lungs, we inhale alot of dust and polutents everyday. I would probably not stick my face near the bowl during the sugar puff that comes out. I work in ICU and have had people who have aspirated stuff like peanut butter and your sucking that stuff out for a week. So personally, no, I dont think you will be affected by the powdered sugar, just be careful while you are putting it in the bowl (turn your head) so you dont inhale too much of it.

When I had my last dental exam I mentioned ow I seem to be getting more cavitie than usual, he told me it was the powder sugar, said many bakers have increased dental issues. He suggestd a mask.

I recently have been experiencing elevated blood sugar that seem to be uncontrollable, more so  during the work week when I am sifting and mixing a LOT of powdered sugar many times a day. My sugar is more manageable on my days off so I have wondered if it has to do with the PS I inhale all day long at the shop. I started using a bandana tied around my neck and put it over my nose and mouth when I'm using the PS and also when using the cocoa powder, which is finer than the sugar. I only just started doing that so I guess I will see if that helps with managing my high blood sugar level.