Is cast iron cooking bad for you?

Answer 1

Cast iron cookware leaches small amounts of iron into the food. Anemics, and those with iron deficiencies, may benefit from this effect. People with excess iron issues (for example, people withhemochromatosis may suffer negative effects.

Answer 2

Inhalation of cast iron dust causes deposition of iron in the lung, resulting in a condition called pneumosiderosis (also referred to as siderosis or Welder's lung) (McLaughlin, 1951; Sutherland et al., 2000; CCOHS, 2002; Khalid et al., 2009). Pneumosideros presents after chronic exposure to iron dust and symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and development of sputum (Khalid et al., 2009).

Answer 3

Iron is necessary for good health as it forms part of the haemoglobin molecule which enables red blood cells to carry Oxygen.