Techniques That Prevent Contamination From Unwanted Micro-Organisms

Unwanted micro-organisms can contaminate your life through improper food handling, the spread of illness, the development of mold and the lack of proper air purification. These micro-organisms can make you and your family ill and pose significant risks to your health. However, you can take some simple steps to avoid their contamination and protect the well-being of yourself and your family.

Food Handling

• When handling raw meats, you must be very careful to avoid bacterial contamination. E. coli and salmonella are infections that you can avoid if you make sure to handle your meats properly. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling raw foods, especially meats, and use a paper towel to dry your hands. Dish towels harbor bacteria, and if one touches raw food it should be washed before you use it again. Using antibacterial soap, clean counters or any other services that the raw meats have touched.

  Don't assume that raw fruits and vegetables are safe, either. Before you eat them, rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove any dirt or germs that they may have acquired during handling and packaging.

Air Purifiers

• According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, UV light air purifiers are effective at purifying a wide variety of micro-organisms from the air. A UV light air purifier can destroy most bacteria, viruses and fungi. As stated in the journal, an internal UV-C lamp inactivated 97 percent of bacteria cells in a room within 60 minutes during a controlled test. However, because one purifier is not enough to clear the entire home, since purifiers are most effective for one room at a time, you would likely need multiple purifiers throughout your residence to ensure the highest level of air purity.

Handling Illness

• If you or someone in your household is ill, you can help prevent germ contamination through a few simple steps. Thoroughly wash your hands if you sneeze into your palm, blow your nose into a tissue or cough into your hand. If you've touched anything an ill person has touched, wash your hands immediately. Immediately dispose of tissues used by the sick person; do not place them on common surfaces such as coffee tables. If possible, sick individuals shouldn't share cups, plates or eating utensils with others in the household. Sterilize thermometers before reuse.

Mold Spores

• The best way to prevent contamination by mold spores is to prevent the conditions in which the spores could thrive. Keep your home at a relative humidity of 30 percent to 50 percent to avoid water accumulation that can lead to mold growth. Remove any standing water and remedy any water damage due to pipe leakage or other causes as soon as possible.