Are barbecue fumes bad for you? The dangers you need to know about

A sunny bank holiday weekend is the perfect time to dust off the barbecue. Eating outdoors is a great way to get the most out of the balmy weather while it lasts.

While the outdoor meal is incredibly popular, many of us may not realise that fumes from a barbecue can also be dangerous.

Smoke from the barbecue contains a high level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to cause respiratory illnesses and even linked to lung cancer.

Many know that eating grilled food and inhaling fumes can be risky for our health. According to a study, absorbing PAHs through the skin can be a significant issue — and one that is often overlooked.

Researchers at Jinan University in China ran an experiment to see how much PAH passes through the skin of someone at a barbecue. Their results were published in the journal  Environmental Science & Technology .

The study found that while eating grilled foods was responsible for most of the PAH absorbed by the body, skin came next and inhalation was third. According to Medical News today, the researchers suggested that oils produced during a barbecue might make it easier for PAHs to be absorbed by the skin.

The advice? Wash clothes exposed to smoke as soon as possible and minimise the amount of time spent close to a barbecue.

Of course, that's not the only reason why barbecuing can be risky. In high temperatures, it can be hard to know what foods are safe to eat. Here are a list of foods to avoid to keep you healthy during the good weather.

1. Unwashed foods

Always make sure that your food is properly washed with clean water. This is an easy but important step to prevent contamination. Also make sure your hands are clean before you deal with the food.

2. Meats that have not been separated

The harmful bacteria campylobacter is most commonly present in meats that are raw and this can allow cross-contamination to easily happen in this weather when left beside cooked meats. Be careful when cooking meats for you BBQs that you use separate utensils, cutting boards and containers. Of course always separate these on different shelves in the fridge!

3. Foods containing mayonnaise

Do not leave mayonnaise or foods containing this sauce out of the fridge for an hour or more. Extended periods of time will prompt bacteria to grow rapidly. Mayonnaise does contain some preservatives, but the harm will occur when you don’t eat these foods immediately as the more time that passes, the more bacteria that will grow increasing your risks of food poisoning.

4. Meat that is not thoroughly cooked

People in Ireland love a BBQ and this weather is a brilliant excuse to have one. But, we must make sure that our meat is thoroughly cooked to kill all bacteria. Cooking food outside will leave food prone to more bacteria and other toxins. Burgers that are cooked rare are especially susceptible to carrying bacteria like E.Coli. Always make sure that your meat is cooked throughout, there is no pink parts and that the juices run clear.