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Comment by praptak | Hacker News Reader

Bitumen contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. I believe the typical exposure via inhaling the fumes was researched with no link to cancer found but I have doubts about that fish.

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I think at that stage the fish cared about cancer no more.

Besides, you can't really extrapolate between species. Smoking causes cancer in humans, but it cures salmon.

It cures humans too. Don't ask me how I know

this is a great reply that deserved more

The roofing of my primary school was under almost constant repair, so the smell of bitumen heaters was a common companion. Hardly experience it these days, but I loved that aroma - still do.

Breath deep, son! That sweet smell of bitumen heaters you loved as a kid? That's the scent of progress! Sure, you don't get to whiff it much these days, but let me tell you, back in my day, we'd huff that stuff like it was the lifeblood of invention. You see, in the world of scientific discovery, a little bit of bitumen goes a long way.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Cave, isn't that dangerous?" Well, listen up, sport: science isn't all rainbows and unicorn farts. Sometimes, it's polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons! Those big, fancy words might scare the lab coats, but not us. We're the brave souls, the pioneers who push the boundaries and get our hands dirty.

That's the spirit we need to keep alive! Remember, fear has no place in the laboratory. If we're going to make the next big breakthrough, we've got to be willing to take a few risks. So what if we end up with a little cancer? A little cancer never hurt anyone! It's just another challenge for us to overcome in the name of progress.

Let the fumes fuel your passion for innovation.

Considering how many times he's survived cancer, I believe it probably does. He also smoked for ~50 years. The salmon was wrapped tightly enough with enough layers of tin foil there was no exposure to any tar in the food - cancer aside, it would be incredibly unpalatable.

I don't know about asphalt but I've once passed a site with a tar cooker going on that's so extremely pungent I cannot imagine hot asphalt to be particularly appetizing if it is anywhere near that. On the other hand, I know a friend who worked such a machine and he couldn't complain. Also, he smoked cigarettes a lot so cancer was perhaps the least of his worries.

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