10 Household Products That Are Slowly Poisoning You

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Every single day, we use many household products to clean, take care or beautify the house without knowing the risks associated with some of the products used. From items such as scented candles to household cleaners, stored under the kitchen sink, among them, these products release volatile organic compounds among other toxic elements. These substances can build up over time and lead to health problems of all kinds from respiratory difficulties to hormonal problems.

Knowing which products are responsible for these risks is the first step toward building a safer and healthier home.

Cleaning Sprays

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When a simple spray cleaner that contains strong chemicals such as ammonia and chlorine is sprayed, it can mainly trigger an asthma or an allergy attack. It also causes skin problems and leaves a person with long term lung problems in cases where the exposure is high and regular.

Air Fresheners

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Phthalates are normally found in air fresheners with awful effects on our hormonal systems and reproductive health. Most of these air fresheners release volatile organic compounds that compromise indoor air quality.

Non-stick Cookware

Teflon coated utensils are preferred by home cooks due to Easy to use, easy to clean and maintain. Still, the substances utilized in producing the non-stick layer, PFOA, is related to adverse health effects, including kidney disease and thyroid disorders.

Personal Care Products

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According to Food and Drug Administration, some products used in our daily life like the shampoo, lotion, and makeup, are packed with dangerous substances like parabens and phthalates. These substances tend to cause hormonal imbalances and have also been associated with increased cancers.

Plastic Containers

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Packaging materials are used commonly by the population for the purpose of food and drinks’ storage. But they include other chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) which is known to cause reproductive harm and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Laundry Detergent

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Most of the normal washing detergents contain synthesized perfumes, colorants and chemical stabilizers which can result to skin inflammations or allergic reactions. The left-over of these products can also stay on cloths and get into the skin systems thus posing long term effects.

Pesticides

Pesticides are widely applied at home, and helps to get rid of insects and rodents in the home. Even so, these chemical agents also present health risks to human beings because they may lead to respiratory sicknesses, skin inflammation, and even cancer.

Hand Sanitizer

People continue to use hand sanitizers as it is more convenient to use than water for killing germs. But they can be flammable and have high concentrations of alcohol – which is dangerous if swallowed or if it comes into contact with the skin. Certain sanitizers will also advance triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical that has been associated with hormonal imbalance.

Fabric Softeners

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According to Sciencedirect, softeners have different chemicals, such as synthetic perfumes and phthalates, which lead to skin rash and hormonal imbalances, respectively. They also emit VHAPs into the room when in use in the dryer thus degrading the quality of air indoors.

Antibacterial Soaps

Antibacterial soaps are effectively advertised as products that are even cleaner and assist to remove germs. But they often include triclosan or triclocarban – both of which increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance and are associated with hormonal effects. They also further upset the normal bacterial flora balance of the body and cause skin reactions, diseases, and other disorders.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.