charcoal v. lump coal

cyb · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 3

There are also charcoal product from Lignite too.

Maybe anthracite can be used to cook?

However, why the need to add all the chemicals and coals? why

It seems like a case of whether will you buy a fresh meat or a meat injected with chemicals.

Harry Nutczak · Posted: Apr 02 2007 Post subject:

adolpho · Posted: Apr 02 2007 Post subject:

adolpho · Posted: Apr 02 2007 Post subject:

Ok here's what I found at this site which defines the different types of coal. I was correct in that anthorcite coal is clean burning. Subituminous and lignite are the lower of 4 categories of coal. So any briquettes containing them might not be of the highest quality of coal. Does it kill you or harm you? It doesn't say, so it's up to you.
Personally, I believe that in this health/environmental concious society, someone would have shut down charcoal briquette companies by now if it was unhealthy for us. But that's just me.
http://www.airbornepollutioncontrol.com/glossary.html

I hope this doesn't turn into an "offset vs. vertical" type of debate and if I'm offending anyone, I don't mean to do it intentionally (I've already received a PM that's kind of a "see...in your face" and I felt bad for possibly having offended him so now he's on the defensive). I see ya'lls points. I'm just wanting to know why no one has shut down charcoal briquette companies if what you claim (and some internet sites as well) is really true?
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Harry Nutczak · Posted: Apr 03 2007 Post subject:

I find it sad that you took my PM that way, when I post a reply to a topic where someone wants to see the proof that they had asked for,
I always inform the person privately and mention it is posted on the thread.

here is your statement from a previous post in this thread; "Still waiting . Ya'll are saying things without referential documentation and I need to know the truth! "

my basic point is not if cooking over actual coal is safe or not, but the ability to make an informed decision. I do not care to have the mercury vapor associated with the burning of coal transferred onto my food no matter how minuscule it is.

I am betting there is documentation out there stating that daily use for prep of all meals is not recommended. but how many people cook day after day above briquettes? 99.99% of all families maybe see charcoal grilled food less than once a month. we are the exception and minority.

I do not see cigarettes being safe, and those factories are still up & running. and use I use their unsafe product.
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adolpho · Posted: Apr 03 2007 Post subject:

Harry Nutczak · Posted: Apr 03 2007 Post subject:

How much is Too much exposure??

I didn't find any documentation about that yet.

But the way I see it, (my own personal beliefs, nothing more) is that because every lake in Wisconsin (and most other states) is under a Mercury consumption fish advisory due to coal burning power plants through the years, if the concentrations of mercury in our (Almost Pristine) inland lakes is high enough for the state health dept. to warn everyone to not consume locally caught fish more than twice a week. and this mercury fallout is from rain water, diluted, and spread out. I think it is enough for me to quit briquettes altogether.

This is what I wonder;
How much Mercury vapor is expelled from Briquettes? and how much of that is actually binding to your food so it is ingested?
we would be in the smallish end of "Parts per Million" and maybe a gas chromatography would be the only way to tell.

Maybe I can get a multimillion dollar grant to determine this, and only spend $100K on the research and retire on the rest like most other researchers do.

Maybe there is no measurable amount? possibly less then in the air we breath daily. Fact is I just prefer lump for several reasons, and the use of coal in briquettes is just the frosting on the cake for me to leave tham alone.
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Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

PalmettoCookers · Posted: Apr 06 2007 Post subject:

Being a project scientist for a large environmental consulting firm you all have peaked my interest in hazards associated with charcoal...plus I had no idea that brown coal was used in charcoal (yuck)...I really couldn't find much on mercury vapor in charcoal, but the paper on lignite combustion shows that the amount is negligible in the grand scheme of things. I would venture to say you get more mercury absorption from swimming in some of those Wisconsin rivers and lakes. I hope some people find these articles interesting as I did. The last one is just plain funny. Good conversation ya'll!

Coal descriptions - http://www.ket.org/Trips/Coal/AGSMM/agsmmtypes.html

Lignite Combustion paper - http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch01/final/c01s07.pdf

If you want a laugh read the last paragraph - http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2003/apr/tech/kb_kenya.html

Environmental question and commentary on charcoal - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3898312/

My kinda car! - http://revolvin.blogspot.com/2006/09/wood-charcoal-powered-car.html
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Harry Nutczak · Posted: Apr 06 2007 Post subject:

here is a site from "mother earth news" about their wood-burning fueled truck.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1974-05-01/How-To-Run-Your-car-On-Wood.aspx

If I had the time & space, I would build one, but my biodiesel plant is taking too much of my time already (I am serious about the biodiesel)

So, nothing yet about health concerns with processed briquettes compared to lump.

The way I see it, the amount of meat we are eating, it is a moot point.
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!