We breathe in radioactive dust from watches: Seven items experts advise against buying second-hand.

We frequently purchase used goods due to their affordability. Advocates of sustainability also have "philosophical" reasons: no to thoughtless consumption, let’s save Mother Nature. Naturally, we are also keen to sell items we no longer need. However, there are certain categories of products that should only be new. Some of these categories are obvious, while others are not so clear. Today, we will discuss the "not so clear" ones. We have gathered opinions from researchers scattered across scientific journals. We hope you find this information helpful.

PILLOWS

And generally, bedding. The temptation is there (good bedding is not cheap these days), and the seller assures that no one has ever used the pillows and sheets. Look, even the packaging is store-bought. Stocked up back in the day.

Don't do it.

Perhaps the seller's story about stocking up on bedding for eternity back then, and now simply needing money, is true. Or maybe it’s not. As for the packaging, I assure you, it’s not difficult to create something plausible.

I know instances where bedding was sold after hospitals and kindergartens were disbanded (and they attempted to wash out the stamps). I’m also familiar with folks who scavenge through abandoned villages, and since icons and other coveted rarities have long been taken, they don’t shy away from bedding.

According to a 2020 study, a pillow that hasn’t been washed for a week contains 17,000 times more fungi and bacteria than a toilet seat (depending on the type of toilet, of course—let’s assume a clean one). And on the sheets—24,000 times more of all that than on a door handle of a public restroom. It’s foolish to wash your hands in such a restroom and then, using your elbow to open the door (that’s what I do), sleep on who knows what (that’s not what I do).

Or do you think modern cleaning agents will eliminate everything? Don’t think that way.

CAR SEATS

Unfortunately, anything related to cars is expensive these days. What is relatively cheap raises questions regarding quality (and it’s still expensive). Thus, there’s the temptation to get a brand-name car seat, but used. A child’s seat! It’s just a formality! So the traffic cop won’t fine me.

No, this is an absolute and complete taboo. Here’s why.

First, you don’t know what parts may be damaged or have fallen off. You're not obliged to understand the construction of all types of car seats. It looks fine, and that’s good (no, it’s not good). What you (and the previous owner) consider as an “extra little piece,” the manufacturer included for an important purpose, and that little piece could save a life and health. Its absence is unfortunate.

Secondly, there are quite a few seats on the market that the manufacturer has recalled due to safety issues. Quietly, such products are passed on for pennies to shady stores somewhere in Asia and begin to spread under the guise of new ones. But they are defective!

There’s also a third reason (an old model doesn’t meet modern safety standards), and a fourth (the seat has been modified, and you definitely don’t want that aura), but what’s been said is sufficient.

DISHWARE AND PLATES

But why these? I’m about to tell you something that will surprise you.

Everyone loves vintage dishware! You’re walking through a market, an old lady has a mountain of plates. You dig through them, and there’s Kuznetsov. The Russian Empire. And the double-headed eagle. How much? Five hundred! How can you not buy it? Go ahead and buy it. But don’t eat from it.

You see, the development of science has been gradual. Even in the early 20th century, manufacturers didn’t fully understand the toxicity of certain paints, glaze components, etc. And in the 1960s, they weren’t entirely aware of the dangers of radiation.

Old dishware might have been painted using lead, and glasses that shimmer in the twilight surely contain uranium. Yes, the same stuff used in bombs. In the 1950s, waste from nuclear plants was used to fertilize fields. And they rejoiced at the bountiful harvest.

Should you dance with a dosimeter at every dish? Send cups and spoons for chemical analysis? Or just remember: vintage is not for the table? The choice is obvious.

WATCHES

Antique watches still run. Why shouldn’t they run if such things were made well in the past?

But look, does the dial glow?

We’ve already mentioned: just fifty years ago, the dangers of radiation weren’t fully understood. Up until the early 1970s, glowing numbers and luminous tips of the hands were all painted with generous use of radioactive substances.

Some manufacturers stopped this practice in the 1960s, others in the 1970s, and you probably need to check the factory to find out when they stopped using radioactive paint, and for good measure, check the item with a dosimeter. Do you really want to do that?

The main danger of old dials is that the radioactive paint flakes off, and through the gaps between the watch glass and the case, it starts to contaminate the air. You breathe radioactive dust. This is very dangerous.

That’s why experienced individuals, like radio enthusiasts, who occasionally buy sturdy and reliable Soviet radio components, avoid anything that glows.

HEALTH DEVICES

The internet is filled with electronic devices that promise to alleviate back pain and, in a good scenario, grant eternal youth. The effectiveness of such products is questionable, even if the manufacturer mentions PhDs and refers to cutting-edge developments.

But whether to buy such items is each person’s choice (just remember that a doctor’s prescription should be paramount). However, buying used Soviet ones is completely out of the question. Here’s why.

Electronics age. Contacts become covered with oxides, and electrolytic capacitors (cylinders with legs—take a look inside, they’re definitely there) simply dry out. And it’s fine if the device doesn’t work in the end. Worse if it does work.

Let’s say the device is supposed to emit a wave of a certain, safe (and even beneficial) frequency. But in a malfunctioning state, the circuit can do anything. And it could roast your back like in a microwave. Or the device might start generating toxic ozone.

In short, it’s impossible to predict how old electronics will behave. Let the Soviet tape recorder not work. We’ll shed a tear, and that’s it. But when it comes to health—never and in no way.

DOSIMETERS

In the 1990s (when Chernobyl was still fresh in memory), housewives wouldn’t go to the market without a dosimeter. Nowadays, it’s not quite the same, but I still see people (and, by the way, there is some sense in such paranoia).

But where to get a dosimeter? A good one is expensive, a Chinese one is also pricey, and there’s little faith in it. And the temptation arises to buy a Soviet one. No doubt, Soviet dosimeters were good. And they still work, especially those from warehouses. But there’s a catch.

In the USSR, dosimeters were intended for military and scientific use. And often, a control element was built into the device. Simply put, a radiation source. To periodically check if the device is working. Over the years, the capsule with the element has lost its tightness, and… see the section on watches.

It’s no wonder that ads often state, “the control element has been removed.” But are you absolutely certain it has been removed? It’s better not to take the risk.

TELEVISIONS

- Take my TV! It works!

If you go to the right shop, there are plenty of old televisions, still with cathode ray tubes, and they cost a penny. And although cathode ray tubes are bulky, unlike panels, they provide a more pleasant (in my opinion) picture. The temptation is strong.

But I wouldn’t recommend it, and here’s why.

A cathode ray tube creates a directed and controlled beam of electrons at very high voltage, which paints the image on the screen. Now imagine. The high-voltage transformer has partially failed. A spark is constantly smoldering, harmful ozone is generated, and the room is filled with electromagnetic debris (you’ll notice it when your head starts hurting for no reason). Or: the screen has partially broken down, and the flow of electrons breaks through to the outside, not only creating an image but also establishing a special