Why does peeling onions make people cry and also make their eyes sting?

Subject: Why does peeling onions make people cry and also make their eyes sting?

Date: Thu Jun 25 15:31:27 1998
Posted by Khurram Gillani
Grade level: undergrad
School: University of Maryland
City: Brooklyn State/Province: New York
Country: U.S.A
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 898806687.Gb

Message:

People cry when they are either sad or very happy. But what do onions contain or do that make people shed tears when they are cutting them? Also, do all people cry when they peel onions or just some? And if only some cry, what is it about these people that makes them immune and not others?
Thank you.

Re: Why does peeling onions make people cry and also make their eyes sting?

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