Parchment paper, commonly used in kitchens to prevent food from sticking to bakeware, should never be burned or inhaled. Smoking this material is extremely unsafe due to the toxic chemical compounds released during combustion. Unlike materials engineered for direct inhalation, parchment paper is a complex chemical product that breaks down into hazardous byproducts at high temperatures.
How Parchment Paper is Manufactured
Parchment paper begins as a simple, cellulose-based paper pulp derived from wood fibers. This base material is subjected to a specialized acid bath, typically involving sulfuric acid or zinc chloride, in a process known as parchmentizing. This treatment alters the cellulose structure, increasing the paper’s density, durability, and heat resistance, allowing it to withstand oven temperatures.
To achieve its signature non-stick property, the treated paper is then coated with a release agent. The most common coating is food-grade silicone, a synthetic polymer made of silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. An alternative coating is Quilon, which contains a solution of chromium(III) compounds. These chemical coatings make the paper highly unsuitable for direct flame exposure and inhalation.
Toxic Compounds Released During Combustion
Direct combustion exposes the complex materials to temperatures far beyond their intended use, leading to the release of dangerous airborne substances. The paper’s cellulose base, like any burning organic material, undergoes incomplete combustion, generating carbon monoxide, an asphyxiant. This process also produces numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and acrolein, a severely irritating aldehyde.
The silicone coating (polydimethylsiloxane) breaks down under intense heat, producing two distinct hazards. First, it generates formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen and potent respiratory irritant, released at temperatures starting around 149°C. Second, the silicon component oxidizes and aerosolizes into fine particulate matter known as fumed silica or silicon dioxide.
Inhaling this microscopic particulate matter, including respirable crystalline silica, poses a severe threat to lung tissue. Silica dust is linked to irreversible lung diseases like silicosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by causing inflammation and scarring. Furthermore, if the paper is coated with Quilon, combustion releases toxic chromium compounds, a heavy metal that is highly hazardous when inhaled.
Safe Materials for Smoking and Inhalation
For inhalation purposes, it is safer to use materials specifically engineered for combustion or heating. Purpose-made rolling papers are typically composed of natural fibers like hemp, rice, or flax, which contain minimal additives and are designed to burn cleanly. These papers avoid the chemical coatings and treatments found in kitchen products like parchment paper.
Alternatively, using devices made from inert materials is a safer choice than burning paper. Glass or ceramic pipes are preferred because they do not release toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures. Vaporization is another method, which heats the material to a point where compounds are released as a vapor, avoiding combustion and the resulting particulate matter.