Did you know that cooking with charcoal can pose a cancer risk? When you cook with charcoal, the wood burns “dirty”, which means that they produce hydrocarbons (a compound of hydrogen and carbon, which are the main components of petroleum and natural gas) as well as soot particles that can produce heart and lunch problems. Grilling the meat over charcoal can form two types of carcinogenic compounds in the meat, which is very unhealthy to eat. When fat from the meat drips onto the charcoal, it forms a compound of carbon and hydrogen, which then rises with smoke into the meat being cooked. Cooking over charcoal can also increase the risk of cancer because the smoke that comes off of the grill gets depositors onto the outside of the meat and eating it can be very dangerous to your health. It is recommended to grill your meat, when camping or at a park, over a Colman or propane-based cooktop or stove, rather than a charcoal fire pit or grill. Cooking with charcoal briquettes or lumps can also cause lots of air pollution, because they are made from sawdust, but may also contain coal, dust, starch, limestone, borax, and sodium nitrate.
Credits: https://www.thoughtco.com/backyard-barbecues-bad-for-your-health-1203996
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