Home Appliances and Health (Second Issue)

Author: Jiang Fuxian, Wang Gongxian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: In the late 1970s, there was a magazine called "Youth Science" that introduced the convenience, cleanliness, and speed of household appliances in Western countries. Some of the text even carried a sense of mystery. For example, when discussing rice cookers, it was said that you could wash the rice in the pot while at work and return home to find a hot meal waiting on the table. We asked our parents, "If no one is home, who turns the cooker on and off? Won’t the rice burn?" Our parents couldn’t answer. As for mobile phones, air conditioners, microwave ovens, and water heaters—they were far off in the future. Over time, various household appliances gradually entered the homes of ordinary people. In cities, computers and air conditioners have become commonplace, while in coastal areas, the average is one phone per two people. The use of computers in workplaces and homes has increased daily. Alongside people’s daily lives, knowledge about household appliances has spread, but awareness of their health risks remains limited. We saw a parent teaching their 4-year-old child to use a computer, with the child sitting too close and using it for too long, completely unaware of how to prevent "computer-related illnesses." When the term "prevention" was mentioned, he dismissed it as absurd. Another young mother stood in front of a microwave oven, holding her 1-year-old child, waiting for food to heat up. When someone reminded her to keep her distance, she paid no heed, thinking it was unnecessary. Surveys show that many white-collar workers have little knowledge about the relationship between household appliances and health. They can operate computers skillfully and repair appliances, yet they are unaware of or indifferent to the dangers of electromagnetic radiation and the physiological and psychological effects of screens. Medical experts predict that the health risks posed by household appliances to the next generation will gradually become apparent in the coming years. Prevention must start with parents and children. During physical check-ups, many of your vital health indicators may be normal, yet your body may still feel uncomfortable—headaches, dizziness, backaches, poor appetite, bloating, diarrhea, weight loss, and excessive sweating. Have you ever thought about whether this is related to household appliances? Today, many modern diseases have emerged, such as "computer-related illnesses," "mouse hand," "computer vision syndrome," "computer dry eye syndrome," "cyber double personality," "air conditioning disease," "refrigerator syndrome," "TV epilepsy," and "fan-related illnesses," among countless others. How should these conditions be prevented? Household appliances have become indispensable helpers in people’s homes, but if used improperly or without precautions, they can also become a "double-edged sword." While bringing convenience, speed, comfort, and ease, household appliances are also quietly endangering people’s physical and mental health. This harm is not immediate or physically debilitating—it is a slow process. Because it is slow, few people pay attention. The purpose of this book is to teach you to pay attention to and care for yourself, to build a protective line for your life and health. Read this book! Place it beside your household appliances and refer to it often—it will greatly benefit your health.