Common household appliances pose a health hazard

Scientists have discovered an unexpected source of dangerous particles in your home: toasters and hair dryers emit trillions of invisible pollutants every minute. Researchers from Pusan National University found that common household appliances release ultrafine particles smaller than 100 nanometers, capable of penetrating deep into human lungs.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to the Journal of Hazardous Materials (JHM), the absolute "champion" of pollution turned out to be an ordinary pop-up toaster, which even without bread produces up to 1.73 trillion ultrafine particles per minute of operation. Significant emissions were also recorded from air fryers and hair dryers, especially those equipped with commutator motors. Notably, modern hair dryers with brushless motors proved to be 10-100 times safer.

Computer modeling revealed an alarming pattern: microscopic particles bypass the nasal cavity almost unhindered and settle in the deep sections of the lungs. Children are at increased risk due to the anatomical features of their respiratory system. Particularly concerning is the chemical composition of the particles, which includes heavy metals — copper, iron, aluminum, and titanium, presumably released from heating elements and motors of the appliances.

Although the researchers emphasize that a direct health impact assessment was not conducted, previous scientific studies have already linked ultrafine particles to the development of asthma, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and various inflammatory processes. In light of the data obtained, scientists call for a revision of household appliance design standards and the development of stricter requirements for indoor air quality.