Common Household Appliances Found to Be Hazardous to Health 0 7

Ordinary household appliances can be a hidden source of ultrafine particulate matter indoors, a new study by researchers from Pusan National University has shown. The work, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials (JHM), revealed that toasters, air fryers, and hair dryers can emit trillions of ultrafine particles (UFPs) smaller than 100 nanometers — small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.

In a laboratory chamber, researchers measured emissions from various devices and found that the greatest source of pollution was a standard toaster with a pull-out mechanism: even without bread, it emitted up to 1.73 trillion particles per minute. Significant emissions were also recorded from air fryers and hair dryers, especially those equipped with collector motors. In contrast, modern hair dryers with brushless motors produced 10 to 100 times fewer particles.

Computer modeling showed that such particles are hardly retained in the nasal cavity and settle in the deep sections of the lungs, with children facing a higher risk of potential exposure due to their narrower airways. Additional concern arises from the fact that heavy metals, including copper, iron, aluminum, and titanium, were found in the particles, likely released from heating elements and motors.

The authors emphasize that the study did not assess the direct health impact; however, ultrafine particles have previously been linked to asthma, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and inflammatory processes. Scientists are calling for a review of design standards for household appliances and the development of stricter indoor air quality guidelines. In the meantime, people are advised to spend more time outdoors and ventilate their homes more intensively.