Nothing beats a healthy family and a safe home. And we are sure that you won't allow such hazardous, toxic, and even carcinogenic chemicals to live with you and be into your home, right? Go through our list to protect your loved ones from the toxins and hazards these common household products can bring.
1. House Cleaning Supplies
Since most household cleaning products are generally unregulated, consumers need to do some rigid scrutiny on these common commercial and domestic cleaners. Reading the label to know its content does the trick. Harmful ingredients lurking in these cleaners are perchloroethylene or 'perc' (neurotoxin), triclosan and quats (aggressive antibacterial), phthalates (hormone disruptors), chlorine (thyroid disrupter), and sodium hydroxide (extremely corrosive).
You surely don't want to springclean your homes yet you also heighten indoor pollution, do you? Frequent use and even accidental spills and leaks from these cleaners increase the risks of asthma attacks, cancer, and skin diseases.
2. Air Fresheners
Uh, oh! These sprays may give you some pleasant smell and refreshing mist but can also put everyone's health at risk. Its hidden hazards are again Phthalates and Dichlorobenzene. Synthetic fragrances may include benzene and aldehydes, which are known to cause cancers, reproductive effects, and problems with the central nervous system -- resulting in increased cases of Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and more.
3. Bug Sprays or Insect Repellents
These mosquito or insect sprays when inhaled or swallowed can really be dangerous. Remember that they kill pests so there might also be some ingredients that can be toxic to humans. For one, it has pesticides called pyrethrins. Though this is generally considered nontoxic because it is created from chrysanthemum flower, it can still cause breathing problems especially if you're up to prolonged exposure or breathe in some large amounts. It also has an active ingredient called DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) to make your repellents work; thus, it increases risks on skin diseases and irritations.
4. Batteries
Most batteries can be safe; however, precautionary measures are strongly advised. Aside from their ecological impacts, these are said to have health concerns. Lead is a toxic metal that can enter the body by inhalation of lead dust or ingestion when touching the mouth with lead-contaminated hands.
Too much exposure to lead can greatly affect babies, children, and pregnant women -- causing child's growth, brain damage, kidney failures, impaired hearing, memory loss, high blood pressure, nerve disorders, and muscle and joint pains.
Well, the key is to use, store, and dispose it properly. Keep batteries out of children's reach.
5. Plastic Shopping Bags
Many chemical additives incorporated into plastic bag production give them optimum durability and desirable performance properties. These synthetic ingredients such as xylene, ethylene oxide, and benzene, have been found harmful both to the environment and to human health. Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cadmium, mercury, and carcinogens, may lead to cancers, birth defects, immune system supression, and developmental problems among kids.
6. Plastic Bottles
For sure you've already heard of the dangers of Bisphenol A (BPA). This neurotoxin mimics the effects of hormones that harm your endocrine system. Though there are some BPA-free plastic containers, single-use plastic bottles tend to be more risky when expose to extreme heat.
Health experts have already warned the public about not leaving bottled water in the car or trunk and discarding them when they do. There have also been various environmental campaigns toward the use of plastic alternatives such as recycling programs, risk awareness, and waste segregation management so as to avoid further damage to the environment and of course, to human health.