The kitchen can be a mess in any home—some more so than others, as anyone who’s ever lived in a student apartment can attest. But as it turns out, the humble microwave is home to far more microbes than you might imagine.
And not only that: the bacteria that these devices hoard are radiation-resistant and multiply every second.
A new study by a team from Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL in Paterna, Spain, was published in the journal Limits of Microbiology has discovered that resilient microbes can adapt to extreme conditions and thrive in microwaves.
Daniel Torrent, one of the study’s authors, said: “Our results show that home microwave ovens have a more ‘anthropogenic’ microbiome, similar to kitchen surfaces, while laboratory microwave ovens harbor bacteria that are more resistant to radiation.”
iStock
As part of their research, the team identified 747 different groups of bacteria in microwaves found in homes, offices and laboratories.
The microbes analyzed in the study showed similarities to microbes found on solar panels, demonstrating how bacteria can become resilient enough to survive in extreme conditions.
The press release states: “They found that the composition of the typical microbial community partially overlapped between shared household microwaves and individual household microwaves, but was quite different in laboratory microwaves. Diversity was lowest in individual household microwaves and highest in laboratory microwaves.”
It goes on to say: “Some types of genera found in household microwaves, such as Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Aeromonas, may pose a risk to human health. However, it is important to note that the microbial population found in microwaves does not pose a unique or increased risk compared to other common kitchen surfaces.”
Regarding guidance for microwave owners, Torrent said, “For both the general public and laboratory personnel, we recommend that microwaves be regularly disinfected with a diluted bleach solution or a commercial disinfectant spray. In addition, it is important to wipe down interior surfaces with a damp cloth after each use to remove residue and to wipe up spills immediately to prevent the growth of bacteria.”
Sign up for our free weekly Indy100 newsletter
How you can participate the free WhatsApp channel of indy100
Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to move this article up the Indy100 rankings.
