Toxic Household

Few people would willingly pick up a toxic chemical and eat it or inhale it. In fact, if something is a known toxin, most people wouldn’t even allow it to be in the house. People endlessly worry about things like nuclear contamination through new construction sites or infected water supplies. They also worry greatly about having a house that is directly under power lines. They spend hours on end lobbying their congressmen and complaining to everyone they know about their extremely dangerous exposure level to whatever it is that they are afraid of. Many people will refuse to live in a place that at one point had trace levels of nuclear waste. Even things such as lead based paint in the walls of an old house will bring about fear in the hearts of homeowners or renters. But ironically, these same people are inhaling toxic fumes or even ingesting toxic materials everyday through certain common place household items which they choose to use.

Types of Toxic Household Items

The only way you can be truly safe from possible toxins in your home environment is by educating yourself on toxic ingredients and then taking that knowledge and putting it into action. When you get to the grocery store or the local hardware store, make sure to look at every ingredient in each item that you purchase. You must be willing to forgo the sometimes deeply ingrained desire to simply purchase the cheapest thing on the shelves. Sadly, it is often times the most affordable item that is the most toxic. Many toxic materials are used because they make the production and efficacy of the item easier and more noticeable.

Things to keep an eye on when you are shopping are:

• Non-stick cookware-Teflon pans contain the toxic chemical polytetrafluoroethylene which is, ironically, released into the contents of the pan when it is heated up.

• Cleaning supplies-cleaning supplies are perhaps the worst offenders. The ones that work the fastest are often times also the most harmful. Natural cleaners should be used instead.

• Chemical fertilizers-natural fertilizers like manure should always be used instead of anything chemical and most likely toxic.

• Air fresheners-these are toxins which you are constantly breathing in.

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Joseph Devine