By Adrian Joele
We are constantly warned by commercials that our homes are full of dangerous germs and they must be killed. Resulting in the addition of antiseptics in cleaning products. But they can be more harmful than most of the germs they kill. Cleaning products with the most fumes are generally the most harmful, such as multi-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, and oven cleaners.
Use the proven safer cleaners.
Like pure soap or soap flakes for washing dishes and clothes, or use environmentally-friendly cleansers like Planet Ark, Nutrimetics, GNLD, Herbon or Tri Nature. For cleaning windows, tubs and tiles, try vinegar and water. For refrigerators, freezers, stainless steel, enamel, chrome and Luminex, use bicarb soda.
These chemical products are used to dissolve other substances. Many solvents can cause health problems, like brain damage, birth defects, miscarriage, asthma, and cancer. Long-term exposure can cause progressive loss of memory and affect learning ability and decision making. Some people with multiple chemical sensitivity and/or chronic fatigue syndrome is affected badly by solvents.
A study at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide found a connection between solvents and miscarriage. In fact, the study found that miscarriage is four times more likely if the woman has been involved in home renovation or has visited factories with high chemical pollution and 2 to 3 times more likely if the male partner has been exposed to strong glues, oven cleaners or oil-based paints. Solvents are present in many household products, including cleaning products, pesticides, liquid paper, marker pens, glues, and paints.
Emitting gasses of volatile organic compounds.
Paints, plastics and particle boards in our homes can give off traces of toxic gasses for months and even years. This emitting of gas is worse in winter when heating is on and windows are shut. VOC’s emit gas from large surface areas, painted walls, ceilings, and stained floors. Also from glued carpets, vinyl, shelves, furniture, particle boards and plastics. Make sure that the house is always well ventilated and use paints and varnishes that don’t emit gas. For floors use timber, tile, and linoleum that emit gas very little.
Buy solid timber furniture. Avoid sources of formaldehyde gas, a potent irritant that affects the respiratory system and can cause asthma. It evaporates from the glue in particle board, plywood, synthetic carpets, upholstery and sometimes wallpaper and some paints.
Non-fluid combustion heating.
When a gas, kerosene or wood heater doesn’t have a chimney, it’s called non-fluid. It results in pollution that is often far worse than outdoor pollution. The toxic fumes from these heaters can cause symptoms similar to throat infections and worsen sinus problems and asthma.
Reduce heating needs by dressing warmly and sleep with warm bedding (electric blanket). Use electrical or fluid combustion heating and leave off when not required. Even better, design your house for solar heating. Insulate the home with wool, cellulose or polyester. If non-fluid combustion heaters must be used, make sure of adequate ventilation.
Dry-cleaning uses powerful solvents, like perchloroethylene, an organochlorine, which in extreme cases can damage the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. After bringing home clothes from the dry cleaner, leave them outside, preferably in the sun for at least 24 hours. Avoid synthetic clothing and wear natural fibers like wool, cotton, linen, silk, and mohair.
Fiberglass can cause lung cancer in humans. Fibers with diameters of less than 3 microns can reach the tiny air sacs in the lungs and remain there indefinitely, with the risk of a form of cancer similar to that caused by asbestos. Every few years check the condition of the fiberglass. Seek professional advice if the fiberglass crumbles to ‘powder’.
Lead is a heavy metal that can cause brain damage, especially in children and during pregnancy. The more common low-level poisoning can cause learning difficulties, hyperactivity and less immunity to infections.
To avoid lead exposure, live well away from motor vehicle pollution, if possible.Take off shoes if there is flaking old paint to avoid bringing lead dust into the house. A hard floor is better than carpet. Use a safe chemical stripper that emits less toxic fumes. Have blood tests, especially for children, if you live near main roads and if your home has flaking old paint.
Factories that manufacture or use toxic chemicals have the greatest risk of exposure. What is known about the toxic effect has been discovered by studying their effects on workers in such factories? Avoid working in any industry that uses toxic chemicals. Ensure adequate ventilation when toxic chemicals are present – even for photocopiers and laser printers in offices.
We can make a difference in our everyday lifestyle choices because what we buy invents the future. If we care about our personal health and the kind of planet we are handing over to our children and grandchildren, it is worth to contemplate about the things we purchase to create the type of world we like to live in.
For example, if more people bought organically grown food, it would become cheaper and the need for pesticides could be reduced. It would be good to join a group of people, for example, a multi-level marketing company or a lobby group which has the vision for a healthier and happier future.
Adrian Joele became interested in nutrition and weight management while he was an associate with a nutritional supplement company. Since 2008 he wrote several articles about nutrition and weight loss and achieved expert status with Ezine https://Articles.com. He has been into nutrition and weight management for more than 12 years. He likes sharing his knowledge with anyone who could benefit from it. Get his free report on nutrition and tips for healthy living, by visiting: https://www.nutrobalance2.net
Article source: https://www.isnare.com