Cooking a roast dinner produces levels of dangerous airborne particles comparable to those found in the world's most polluted cities, a study has found.

In our study, “dust” refers to soil-derived airborne particles generated by wind erosion or human activities, such as farming operations or travel on unpaved roads.

For years the study of airborne particles has been dismissed by public health officials - until now.

However, scientists will also look at fly ash, airborne particles that are the result of burning fossil fuels.

They can detect airborne particles of suspicious substances, such as hydrogen peroxide, from a distance of 400 metres.