Indoor Pollution Linked to Daily Use of Kitchen Appliances
Summary: A study has found that major indoor pollution risks stem from the day-to-day appliances like toasters, air fryers, and hair dryers.
Did you know that the simple-looking appliances like toasters, air fryers, and hair dryers are a major reason for indoor pollution? These appliances release innumerable ultrafine particles into the air, which we breathe in and which affect our lungs and health.
The research Â
Research on these appliances was carried out by the researchers of Pusan National University in South Korea.
The method and finding
A sealed chamber was set up, which captured the ultrafine particles (UFPs) emitted from these appliances. These particles were found to be under 100 nanometres, which cannot be blocked by the nose. They burrow deep inside the lung tissue and bloodstream. Children have narrower airways and, therefore, are more prone to infections from these UFPs.
These UFPs were found to contain traces of heavy metals like copper, iron, aluminium, silver and titanium, from the scraping and heating coils of the appliances.
The health concerns
UFPs enter the bloodstream via the lungs, leading to inflammation and diseases like asthma, cardiovascular strain, hypertension, diabetes and even cancer. The metallic traces further elevate health risks and weaken the immune system, heart and brain functions.
Compared to adults, children breathe more, thereby retaining more of the UFPs in their lungs.
The risksÂ
The coils of empty pop-up toasters released 1.73 trillion UFPs per minute, being the most risky, followed by air fryers and hair dryers.
The precautions
Some precautions can be taken while using these appliances:
- Use toasters/air fryers near a window or in places with an exhaust fan to pull away the airÂ
- Use brushless dryers, and refrain from empty runs of the hair dryers
- Added filters, cooler materials and brushless technology should be used for manufacturing these appliances.
- Strict laws, regulations and testing these appliances for UFP emission and labelling should be done.
- Other appliances like heating irons, vacuum cleaners, and space heaters should also be researched.
The findings of the research were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials in late 2025.Â
ConclusionÂ
Given the lifestyle we lead, our reliance on these everyday appliances is inevitable. It is the need of the hour for manufacturers to check for safety against UFPs and take necessary steps to keep these appliances safe for use.
Source:Â Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
- Health News and Updates,People Forum
- 13 January 2026
- 17:01
