Common Home Safety Hazards That Can Be Harmful For You

Find out the real risks presented by some of the most common household safety hazards.

Electrical Outlets

If you stick something in a socket, you could get a nasty shock. The left slot is connected to the neutral wire, the right is connected to the hot one, and the electricity flows from hot to neutral. Sticking something into any slot will disturb the flow and send it into you.

It might kill you. A shock from a standard 120-volt outlet could cause cardiac arrest.

Toasters

While chances of electrocution are slim, it’s still a bad idea to stick anything besides bread into a toaster. Even if you unplug the appliance, you could harm the heating element, which could shock you or start a fire the next time you make toast. You largely risk a shock or perhaps a burn.

Using small appliances around water

Since water conducts electricity extremely well and electric currents flow where there is the least resistance, they will usually go through that water—and into you—if the chance presents itself. Your body is more likely to resist electrical current if your skin is dry.

It could kill you. If your hands are wet when you plug in your iron, you might get just a shock. But if you do it straight out of the shower when your whole body is wet, then yes, you could die from a serious shock to your heart.

Microwave Ovens

Microwaves release radiation that causes cancer. There are two types of radiation. Ionizing radiation, the kind that’s emitted after a nuclear explosion, is the bad stuff. Microwave ovens emit non-ionizing radiation, a less dangerous kind, and at a low level. Microwaves operate at about three gigahertz, which is fairly low on the electromagnetic spectrum.

Plastic Food Containers

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in hard clear-plastic takeout and food-storage containers, does leak into your food when microwaved. Although studies have associated it with asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and reproductive problems, among others.

Cellphones

Radiation from your mobile phone will cause brain cancer. The good news is that cellphones, like microwave ovens, give off non-ionizing radiation—the safer kind. Your phone discharges about two gigahertz of radiation per second, less than a microwave oven. But a few studies have shown an increased risk of brain cancer with heavy cellphone use.

The post Common Home Safety Hazards That Can Be Harmful For You appeared first on Masalamah.com.