Pneumonia, kidney failure and more: How the dish sponge can kill you slowly
2024-09-29 14:11:32
TiranaPost
Your home is meant to be a haven for your health. Whether it's ensuring the air is clean or cooking in a hygienic environment. However, an object used every day for cleaning may be undermining your health without knowing it: the dish sponge. This seemingly innocent tool can often become a hotbed for dangerous bacteria, posing a risk to your family.
Why are kitchen sponges a health hazard?
Studies have found that kitchen sponges can harbor more bacteria than toilet seats, ranking them as one of the dirtiest objects in the home. In fact, a single sponge can hold up to 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimeter, contaminating the surfaces it touches. These bacteria often include foodborne pathogens associated with food poisoning. For example, when a sponge comes into contact with raw foods such as chicken, which can carry Salmonella, the risk of contamination multiplies.
Researchers at Duke University confirm that the structure of a sponge—a moist, porous environment—makes it an ideal habitat for microbes. The sponges can grow even more bacteria than the standard agar plates used in laboratories to grow bacteria.
Bacteria found on dish sponges can cause everything from mild stomach upset to more serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and blood poisoning.
If you're looking for safer alternatives to traditional sponges, consider using scrub brushes, silicone brushes, or metal sponges, which are easier to clean.
