The washing machine is one of my favourite household appliances. I especially love the short program, which cleans clothes in a flash. On the other hand, I don't have a dryer but I can imagine the addiction I would get if I decide to get one.
Why am I mentioning these devices? Because, as much as we love them, we need to know that are not as «innocent» as we thought. Clearly, it is very difficult to take them out of our routine. However, we should be aware of the risks they can pose to health and the environment.
Which household appliances can harm us
- The washing machine
Previous studies have found that antibiotic-resistant bacteria can «hide» in the washing machine. But what's worse is what a new study has found, that these bacteria then can be re-transmitted to humans.
The finding was made by researchers from the University of Bonn, Germany, at a local children's hospital where Klebsiella oxytoca bacteria was repeatedly transmitted to newborns. The source of transmission was a conventional washing machine used in the hospital to clean the babies' clothes. The bacterium was transmitted to the infants through socks and caps that had been put in the washing machine. The positive thing was that, despite the transmission of the bacteria, no dangerous infections in the infants.
The conclusion was that antibiotic-resistant bacteria are capable of spreading through a household washing machine. As to whether consumers should be concerned about bacteria left in their washing machine, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. As Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Maryland, explained to Healthline, «this bacteria is resistant and can cause serious infections, but still requires a sensitive host. Many people can be exposed to drug-resistant bacteria - which can even “colonise” them, as is the case with many healthcare workers - and many people can be exposed to drug-resistant bacteria. but not to get infections».
Many experts argue that most concentrations of bacteria are not enough to make people seriously ill. Either way, it's a good idea to include in your regular laundry maintenance to include 90 degree washes without a load of laundry. You can use an antibacterial product or even a cup of vinegar.
- The clothes dryer
Is a tumble dryer really necessary? If not, it might be best to avoid it, since research has found that dryers release microfibres into the air at a level comparable to the amount of microfibres released into the sewer when washing the same load in the washing machine.
In a study conducted by the City University of Hong Kong, the research team verified the hypothesis that household tumble dryers release a large amount of plastic microfibres, being one of the main sources of microfibre pollution in the atmosphere.
The release of large amounts of microfibres from synthetic fabrics in clothes dryers into the atmosphere is of concern. Experts say that wild animals ingest these microfibres as they float in the air, stay on the land and in rivers. Eventually, they end up on our plates as they enter the food chain.
In countries with sunshine, such as Greece, if there is the possibility of laying out clothes in the sun, the natural properties of the sun are exploited without harming the environment.
- The microwave
Did you know that the collective use of a microwave oven can harm the environment as much as millions of cars; Researchers looked at the overall environmental impact of microwave ovens from their manufacture to their disposal by the consumer. They determined that the appliances emit 7.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually in the European Union, about the same amount as 6.8 million cars.
In addition to the environmental impact, some foods can lose their nutritional value if they are cooked in the microwave. Studies have shown that vegetables lose some of their nutritional value in the microwave. For example, microwaving has been found to remove 97% of flavonoids (plant compounds with anti-inflammatory benefits) in broccoli.
Another microwave danger is when we put food in plastic Tupperware or other types of wrappers. In this case, scientists warn that there is risk of ingestion of phthalates, i.e. chemicals used in plastic packaging. When exposed to heat, these plastic additives can break down and penetrate the food.
