(Washington, DC) – New research shows the smell of food cooking is a sign of air pollution. A new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured what they called “underappreciated sources” of urban air pollution. Researchers wrote that if you can smell the food, “there’s a good chance it’s impacting air quality.” Overall, they found that cooking accounts for a nearly a quarter of volatile organic compounds in the air. Those are human-made chemicals that are used in making paints and pharmaceuticals.
Researchers are still looking at what these results mean for air quality, but the study’s lead author says having the data is the first step to making policy decisions.
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