Hidden in 18 New York City restaurants, air pollution in kitchen spaces reached a median PM2.5 level of 79.6 micrograms per cubic meter, and scientists say some spikes climbed into the thousands, raising new questions about what restaurant workers breathe all shift

Restaurant kitchens tend to be known for their hot environment, as well as their noisy operations. However, what many people don't see is the air that workers have to breathe over long shifts. There has been another addition to the growing research, which indicates that the air inside commercial kitchens contains excessive amounts of fine particulate pollution at times well above outdoor safety standards.

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