Is burnt toast carcinogenic?
G.Morgan, London UK • It is believed that items over-barbecued (i.e. burnt) are carcinogenic. because the burning leaves carbon as the residue. I suppose it would be the same for burnt toast. Ray , Southport U.K. • Not so much ‘carbon’ that’s carcinogenic, but the complex carbon compounds which result from the charring process, when the carbohydrates etc. are broken down (‘pyrolised’) by the heat. Mike Whittaker, Peplow Shropshire UK • Carbon itself is not carcinogenic: after all, diamonds, not known for causing cancer, are made entirely of carbon and indeed it’s a major consituent of the human body. However, ‘black’ carbon like graphite and burnt toast has been touted as a possible carcinogen becuase it is a roughly flat molecule. Other flat molecules, such as benzene, are carnicogenic becuase they can insert themselves into the small gaps of the DNA spiral, disrupting DNA replication. However, I don’t know of any direct evidence that ‘flat’ carbon can actually do this. Matt, Bath UK
