During the long, hazy days of summer, many people dust off their grills and daydream of flipping burgers and other food. However, few know that outdoor dining could be dangerous to your health and the planet.

On July 4, as many as 60 million people light up the grill. That one day of 'cuing releases 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to a report issued by the Sierra Club in 2005. While those emissions numbers pale in comparison to the amount of carbon dioxide released from tailpipes, charcoal grilling can also produce air pollutants that could be hazardous to your health.

In fact, grilling can be toxic. Burning charcoal produces fine, sooty particles that can lodge in lungs and irritate existing respiratory conditions like asthma, but certain products can also release potentially dangerous amounts of carcinogenic volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is known to disrupt cell functions.

Charcoal is the biggest culprit when it comes to releasing benzene. According to the Sweden's Department of Chemical Environmental Science and Chalmers University of Technology, benzene is the predominant airborne compound released by glowing charcoal and firewood embers, and it can have some startling effects.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people who breathe in benzene may feel drowsy, dizzy, experience tremors, headaches, irregular heartbeat, faint, or even die if too much is inhaled.

Breathing it in isn't the only way to take in benzene or other VOCs either, as these chemicals can leech into food. Eating foods contaminated with VOCs can cause vomiting, nausea, dizziness, convulsions and other symptoms as well, according to the CDC. Long-term exposure can result in bone marrow issues, anemia, lowered immune function, birth defects and cancer.

Greener Alternatives

But there's no need to ban your barbecue or sacrifice tailgate tradition, as there are plenty of environmentally- and health-conscious alternatives that will keep your summer sizzling and your flavors fabulous.

It may seem counter-intuitive given petroleum's bad rap, but propane grills and natural gas grills are actually more energy efficient and burn cleaner than kin. The most energy efficient grills are electric, but for those who can't part with the glowing embers and smoky flavor, there are plenty of alternatives to traditional charcoal and lighter fluid.

What you want to avoid are charcoals made with additives such as coal dust, sodium nitrate, limestone, starch, sawdust and petroleum products. Quick-start charcoals that have been soaked in toxic, petro-based lighter fluids are the worst offenders of all, according to The Daily Green.

Instead, there are a variety of substitutes that burn just as well.

Cowboy Charcoals are composed of untreated maple and oak scraps from furniture and flooring factories and are made without fillers or fossil fuels. They're available at Lowe's stores, and can even add a nice woody taste to your food. Whole Foods also has a similar product.

Though you may have never considered torching up these puppies, briquettes made of coconut shells can offer a clean cookout. Greenlink Charcoal and Kamado Charcoal both offer chemical-free coconut briquettes, which are smokeless and produce little ash. Both companies also offer lump-wood charcoals as well.

"I started using lump charcoal a few years ago after I read about the risks of cancer from using regular briquettes," said author Kelly Wilson. "I have to admit that the food tastes much better -- no chemical flavor -- and it is easier to do the cooking and clean up because I can add bricks whenever, as opposed to waiting until the nasty stuff burns off. The ashes are super light and can go into a bag."

Before you think that going green will cost you a bundle, here's a price check. Although you may not find Kamado Extruded Coconut charcoal in stores, it still only costs $14.99 plus shipping for a 12-pound sample box, according to the company's Web site. So while it may be more expensive than what you might pick up at the grocery store, it's still possible to fire up the grill without burning up your bank account.

Ditch Starter Fluid, Clean Green

Any seasoned grill jockey knows that lighting up the barbeque isn't always a cakewalk. Unfortunately, most charcoal lighter fluids emit VOCs. But an electric charcoal starter can get your coals rolling, or you can use the science of fire to your advantage and try a charcoal chimney starter -- which is essentially a metal cylinder with a handle.

Some companies even create the fire-starting kit for you. One Light Charcoal bags can be found at Walmart and Whole Foods, and come in a single-use bag that has an internal chimney to get the all-natural charcoal red hot while the paper bag burns away.

For those stubborn starters, you could try Ecoflame Lighting Gel which is non-explosive and made from natural sugar cane alcohol. It's odor free, is safe to use indoors on fireplaces and retails for about $6.

When all is said and stomachs are sated, there is still cleaning to be done but that doesn't mean you have to resort to harsh chemicals and exhaustive scraping. Simple Green Heavy Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner is non-toxic and biodegradable, and the can -- made with recycled steel -- is recyclable too.

From light-up to clean-up, with just a few product shifts you and your 'cue crew can enjoy and protect the outdoors while eating healthier and harboring fewer toxic products around the home.