Contents:
Medical Video: 5 of the World's Most Dangerous Chemicals
Chemicals and materials that you find in the household can emit harmful toxins that not only affect the air quality in the room, but also can endanger the health of your family. Side effects ranging from dizziness and nausea, feeling unwell, allergic reactions, to organ damage.
These household products - which include tile adhesive, plastic, asbestos and concrete, paint, floor cleaning fluids, to camphor - contain volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOCs are described by experts as a mixture of a variety of chemicals released from various sources and at least 10 times more dangerous for the body if it continues to be trapped indoors, especially in children. There are at least 80 thousand chemicals contained in household daily utensils, and approximately 1,300 of them are considered as hormone destroyers.
Toxic chemicals hiding inside your house
1. Acetone
Found at: nail polish eraser, furniture polish, wallpaper, topical alcohol
When exposed to air, acetone evaporates very quickly and is easily burned. Acetone can cause fatal life-threatening poisoning, but it is very rare because the body is able to break down large amounts of acetone absorbed into the system. To get poisoned, you have to consume or consume an enormous amount of acetone in a short time. Symptoms of mild acetone poisoning include headaches, slurred speech, lethargy, lack of sensory coordination, and sweetness in the mouth. Therefore, the use of acetone to remove colorful nail polish in your nails should be done in an open room and away from the flame. Always keep products containing acetone out of reach of children.
Alternative: Use a nail polish remover product that lists free acetone. The same applies to furniture polishers; Water-based furniture lubricants work just as effectively as products containing acetone.
2. Benzene
Found at: paint, glue, gas released from carpet, wax, detergent, emissions from burning gas fuel, cigarette smoke, camphor, deodorizing equipment
Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. The benzene vapor mass is heavier than ordinary air and can sink into lowland areas. Outdoor air contains benzene in small amounts from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhausts, and industrial emissions. Indoor air generally contains higher levels of benzene than in the outside air from daily exposure to household products.
Benzene works by disrupting the work of cells in the body. For example, long-term benzene exposure can cause the bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells. Benzene can also damage the immune system by changing antibody levels and causing loss of white blood cells - which can cause anemia, or worse, leukemia from heavy and prolonged exposure. Some women who inhale large amounts of benzene for months have irregular menstrual cycles and a decrease in their ovary size.
Alternative: Look for household products labeled benzene free, and as much as possible reduce the use of camphor to reduce unpleasant odors at home. Fresh lavender flowers, aside from being able to beautify your house, are a good smell to get rid of musty smells and nuisance insects.
3. Ethanol
Found at: perfume, cologne, hairdressing products, deodorant, shampoo, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, room freshener, furniture polish, dish soap, detergent, clothes softener
Exposure to ethanol which is still within reasonable limits does not always have an impact on health. Most people will be exposed to ethanol from consuming liquor with the level of ethanol concentration can vary from 4-45%. However, if you are in contact with pure ethanol in large quantities (oral, skin, or inhaled) the symptoms of poisoning can vary, ranging from nausea vomiting, allergic skin reactions, convulsions, speech slurred, chaotic body coordination, burning eyes, to deep extreme cases, coma. However, high concentration exposure is more likely to occur in work environments such as in industry or laboratories, where pure ethanol is sometimes used. Exposure to ethanol in air and water in the general environment is fairly low because these compounds are easily broken down by sunlight.
Alternative: When using household cleaning products containing ethanol, be sure to open the window wide or make an effective air filtration system that will absorb chemicals.
4. Formalin
Found at: asbestos and concrete, cigarette smoke, gas compost or kerosene burning, furniture made of pressed wood with adhesives containing urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin, plastic bags
Formaldehyde is a chemical compound derived from combustion and certain natural processes that are commonly used widely by industry to produce building materials and various household products. Thus, there may be traces of formalin in considerable concentrations both indoors and outdoors.
When formaldehyde is present in the air at a level that exceeds 0.1 ppm, some people may experience side effects such as watery eyes; burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat; cough; wheezing; nausea; skin irritation; and chest pain. Exposure to high concentrations can trigger asthma attacks in people who have them, can also cause bronchitis. Formalin has been shown to cause cancer in animals and is suspected of causing cancer in humans.
Alternative: Don't smoke, and especially don't smoke indoors. Open the window as wide as possible to allow fresh air to enter, especially when you use clean and insecticide products. Try to keep the temperature inside the house at a low and comfortable temperature setting. Also, spend as much time outdoors looking for as much fresh air as possible. This is very important for families with children, parents or family members with chronic diseases such as asthma.
5. Toluene
Found in: paint, rubber, coloring, glue, printing
Toluene is an excellent solvent agent for paints, lacquers, thinners and adhesives. the most common route of exposure through inhalation. Symptoms of toluene poisoning include CNS effects (headache, dizziness, ataxia, drowsiness, euphoria, hallucinations, tremors, convulsions, and coma), ventricular arrhythmias, chemical pneumonia, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, and electrolyte imbalances. People exposed to mild exposure to toluene vapors do not pose a risk of acute poisoning.
Alternative: Check the paint label whether the product you are using contains toluene. If yes, open each air vent wide to enable smooth air exchange. Polish paint for any furniture or other household equipment in the open air (park or street in front of the house) to prevent paint from releasing harmful gases that can settle in the house.
6. Xylene
Found at: motor vehicle exhaust emissions, paints, varnishes, nail polish, adhesives, rubber cement
Mild to moderate exposure to xylene vapor can cause hot eyes to turn red, swollen, runny, blurred vision; and / or mild skin irritation, such as redness and swelling, the skin feels dry and itchy; irritation of the nose and throat. Exposure to large amounts of xylene is very dangerous, because it can cause central nervous system depression which causes nausea and vomiting and headaches, and dizziness; to liver and kidney damage, loss of consciousness, respiratory system failure, and even death.
Alternative: Check the paint label whether the product you are using contains xylene. If yes, open each air vent wide to enable smooth air exchange. Polish paint for any furniture or other household equipment in the open air (park or street in front of the house) to prevent paint from releasing harmful gases that can settle in the house. Never let the car engine start in a closed garage.
7. Phthalate
Found at: tiles, shower curtains, synthetic leather, household appliances made of PVC vinyl (to make flexible and clay plastic), air freshener products (phthalates are used to keep perfume from evaporating); nail polish, wall paint, furniture varnish; cling wrap and plastic food containers
The study revealed that boys born to mothers with high phthalate concentrations in the system suffer from abnormalities in their genitals. These chemicals interfere with testosterone and estradiol, a hormone that affects breast development. Studies have found that women who have breast cancer have higher phthalate levels than women who do not have cancer.
Alternative: Avoid any air freshener containing synthetic fragrances, such as new lime or aerosol sprays. Avoid household items made from vinyl, and always store your food in glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers.
8. Bisphenol A (BPA)
Found at: canned food containers, household utensils made of plastic, old production plastic bottles (before 2012), old models of baby milk bottles (before 2011), shopping bills
BPA production actually began in 1930 as synthetic estrogen given to women. So it's not surprising that exposure to these chemicals leads to hormonal changes, such as decreased sperm production, early puberty in girls, and infertility in adults. Lab studies also suspect that BPA exposure in high concentrations can cause miscarriages. BPA also disrupts the body's metabolism and plays a role in heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Alternative: Always prioritize buying fresh or frozen food rather than canned food. You can also limit the risk of additional exposure by refusing unnecessary shopping bills.
Pollution in the household can be observed by placing air freshener plants in strategic places. To find out the best air purifier plants, click here.
READ ALSO:
- 7 These Things Are Grosser Than Public Toilets
- 10 Home Cleaning Activities That Burn Many Calories
- 7 Ways to Make a Home a Safe Place for Children
