Khaberni - A team of researchers revealed the extent of indoor air pollution caused by daily household appliances, warning about some devices that may require caution before operating them.
A research team from Pusan National University in South Korea established a special laboratory room to measure the emissions of airborne ultrafine particles from various household appliances, including toasters, air fryers, and hair dryers. These particles are smaller than 100 nanometers, which is small enough to deeply penetrate the lungs.
The results showed that most household appliances emit significant emissions of these particles, with the worst being the bread toaster, which emits about 1.73 trillion ultrafine particles per minute even without any bread inside. These particles are so fine that the nose cannot filter them out, allowing them to reach the lungs, with children being more susceptible due to their smaller airways.
Chang Hyuk Kim, an environmental engineer from Pusan National University, indicated that "our study confirms the need to design electrical appliances with emission considerations and to establish indoor air quality guidelines suitable for different age groups".
He added: "Reducing the emissions of ultrafine particles from daily devices will contribute in the long term to healthy indoor environments and reduce the risks of chronic exposure, especially for young children".
The study noted that electric heating elements and brushless direct current motors play a significant role in particle emissions, with experiments showing that brushless hair dryers emit particles about 10 to 100 times less compared to dryers with internal motors. (Brushes: small parts typically made of carbon or a blend of carbon and metal used in some electric motors to transfer electrical current from the stationary part of the motor to the rotating part).
Researchers also found heavy metals - such as copper, iron, aluminum, silver, and titanium - within the airborne particles, likely directly emitted from the coils and motors.
Kim further explained that "these heavy metals increase the risk of cellular toxicity and inflammation when particles enter the human body"
Although the study did not measure the direct health impacts, many previous studies have linked these particles to diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.
Researchers emphasize the need for further efforts to improve the safety of household devices and reduce the emissions of ultrafine particles, noting that manufacturers can improve design and efficiency, but radical change may require more stringent regulations.
The study was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
