Avoiding Hazardous Chemicals

[Guest guest]

Washington Post

(By Summers)

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Everyday products can expose you to potentially hazardous chemicals, some of

which can accumulate in your body. As revealed in a published study,

researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have now

detected 212 of those chemicals in the blood or urine of some 2,500

volunteers. Here are some potential problems associated with common

household items, as well as Consumer Reports' recommendations for less-toxic

alternatives.

Air fresheners

They can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as petroleum

distillates and d-limonene. Both compounds can irritate the skin, and

petroleum distillates can bother eyes and the respiratory tract.

Additionally, many air fresheners contain synthetic fragrances that have

compounds called phthalates. Some phthalates are linked to hormonal

abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems.

ALTERNATIVES Try getting rid of the source of the odor, rather than masking

it with an air freshener, and leave an open box of baking soda to absorb any

lingering smells. If you must use an air freshener, do so only in

well-ventilated spaces or consider natural fragrances, such as herbs and

spices boiled in water or wooden sticks dipped in natural oils.

Bathroom and kitchen cleaners

Drain openers can contain sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid, which can harm

eyes, lungs and skin. Also, scouring powder can contain chlorine bleach;

bleach should never be mixed with other cleaners because together they can

form toxic gases. Further, potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, which

are found in some oven cleaners, can irritate eyes, lungs and skin.

ALTERNATIVES Try a plunger, plumber's auger or snake to unclog drains. To

clean stains on tiles and glass, make a paste of baking soda and water. Use

the paste with steel wool or a nylon scrubbing pad to clean your oven. And

you can add salt to the mixture for extra abrasion power when tackling tough

stains.

Carpets

New carpets as well as the adhesives used to install them can emit VOCs.

ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Air out new carpeting by opening windows and running a

fan for a few days. Moreover, prior to installing new carpet, ask for

low-VOC, formaldehyde-free adhesives.

Dry-cleaned clothing

It can release perchloroethylene (perc), a probable human carcinogen.

ALTERNATIVES First, consider " wet " cleaning, a dry-cleaning service that

does not use perc. But when you must dry-clean, hang items near an open

window to air them out.

House paints and paint removers

Paints can spread VOCs. Also, methylene chloride, which in lab tests causes

cancer in animals, is found in aerosol paints and paint removers.

ALTERNATIVES Choose low-VOC paints. Paint in well-ventilated rooms, and wear

a face mask or respirator if you are particularly sensitive or have

underlying breathing problems such as asthma.

Pest control

Roach pesticides can contain organophosphates and carbamates. These

substances are neurotoxins, which can cause headaches, nausea and tremors.

Rodent killers aren't any better: They often contain warfarin, a chemical

that can cause internal bleeding.

ALTERNATIVES Try roach traps that use bait made from slow-acting poisons or

compounds that interfere with a pest's reproductive system. These products

are extremely targeted, stay in a specific area and aren't sprayed, which

can cause more inadvertent exposure than necessary. For rodents, try such

preventive measures as sealing entry points where rodents can creep in. If

they've already infiltrated, set ordinary mousetraps.

Plastic products

New plastic products, including computer casings made with polyvinyl

chloride, can emit phthalates. Additionally, they can release polybrominated

diphenyl ethers, flame-retardant chemicals that are linked to neurological

changes in animals.

ALTERNATIVES If the smell is strong, ventilate the area until the chemical

odor dissipates. And on a regular basis, vacuum around computers, printers

and televisions to remove particles that shed from the plastic and stick to

dust.

Pressed-wood and upholstered furniture

Some glues in pressed wood as well as wrinkle-resistant fabrics can release

formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen that can cause allergic reactions and

bother the eyes, nose and throat.

ALTERNATIVES Put existing furniture in well-ventilated areas and, when

shopping for new items, look for formaldehyde-free furniture, upholstery and

wood products.

Wood cleaners

Furniture cleaners can give off VOCs, and some polishes contain naphtha.

Naphtha can induce headaches and nausea, and can cause problems in the

central nervous system.

ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Wear gloves and make sure the room is well-ventilated

when using furniture polishes. In particular, when cleaning wood floors,

consider mixing one cup of vinegar into a pail of hot water for a nontoxic

cleaning alternative.

Copyright 2009. Consumers Union of United States Inc.