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TOXINS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD
Some sources of toxins in your households
are so unsuspecting that they
continue to slowly poison your bodies. Do you know what they are?
Is Your Home Safe For Living?  We spend many hours in our home and get exposed to indoor pollution that we may be unaware of. When we fall sick, we would never suspect that the source could be from our own home. After all, our homes are supposed to be our "safe haven", isn't it? Some homes tend to be more of a health hazard than others. If we are aware of the things that are toxic and take special care for a clean environment, many health problems could easily be alleviated. Some people don't like to admit that their homes could be contributing to their health problems. But we need to stop and take a hard look around and be honest if we want to get well. How do we know if our home is toxic and unhealthy for living? Here are some tell-tale signs: -
Symptoms begin after moving into the new home, after remodeling, or after adding some new furnishings -
Symptoms get worse during the winter when windows are all closed up -
Symptoms disappear or improve when family members leave the home for a period of time -
The family member who spends the most time at home has the most severe symptoms -
More than one family members experience the same or similar symptoms -
Visitors complain of the same symptoms when they enter or stay at the house Possible Culprits Indoor pollutants are airborne. Depending on the ventilation (or the lack of it) in the home, the air could contain very high density of pollutants, some carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Some of these unseen hazards are from the ozone, molds, mildew, dust mites, asbestos, gasses from combustion appliances, pesticides, etc. Consider the following: - New paintwork. The smell of a fresh paintwork may smell good to some, but it is really hazardous to those with a weak lung and even more dangerous to a cancer patient. Paint fumes can even be absorbed through the skin and cause problems as bad as though inhaling it. Some symptoms of exposure to paint fumes are headaches, dizziness, runny nose or eyes, difficulty breathing, irritability, temporary memory loss, tremors in hands and slurred speech.
 Carpeting. This is one of the most overlooked hazards at home. Most carpets are major source of toxins. They contain dozens of chemicals that are designed to kill bacteria, mold and mildews; as well as to resist stains and hold colors. The wider the area of carpet coverage, the more vapors/fumes are released in the air. Be aware if you have very young toddlers who are in close proximity to the carpet as they will tend to absorb a higher level of these toxicity, inhaling all the chemical fumes, dust and mites. Shampooing carpets does NOT decrease the level of chemicals as the pollutants are released into the air when wet and become even more toxic. - Formaldehyde. Like the carpet, inexpensive wooden building materials such as the wall paneling, particleboard, plywood, chipboard may contain formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent gas that can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, respiratory tract, itchy throat, fatigue, nausea and even nose-bleeds.
Formaldehyde are also present in paints, shellacs, waxes, glues and adhesives, some plastics, disinfectants, pesticides, cleaning agents, newspaper, carpets, draperies, sprays and aerosols, nail polish, nail polish remover, etc. - Asbestos. Asbestos are used in older houses and found in wall and ceiling as insulation and fire-retardant. Constant or over-exposure to asbestos particles can cause breathing abnormalities and have been linked to lung damage, lung cancer and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Heating system. All types of home heating systems can be a source of air pollutants in your home. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, etc. are released into the air from the heating system. These are free radicals that when inhaled are slow killers to adults and highly toxic for young infants.
- Microbes, molds, and mildews. In humid rooms such as bathrooms and basements, molds and mildews can thrive. Heat from washing machines, refrigerator, or dish-washers in low ventilation area can cause the area to be humid and damp. Even watering indoor plants can cause mold spores to be released into the air. Some symptoms caused by molds include chronic sinusitis, nasal congestion, phlegm cough, cloudy nasal discharge, headaches and laryngitis. It can also trigger symptoms in people who have asthma.
- Pollens, dust and dust mites. These are airborne and easily enter into our bodies through inhalation. They may cause severe symptoms to an asthmatic person. Dust mites feed on flakes of human's shed skin, and their fecal particles can be a cause of an allergic reaction. Simple and regular washing will help remove much of these fecal matters.
There are many more items in your household that could produce toxic fumes or vapor that may be harmful to your family. Take a look around and make your home a safe place with as much proper ventilation as possible. Here's an informative site that can help you transition to live chemical/toxic-free.
Learn to read food ingredient labels and prevent feeding poisons to your family Using Aluminum Pots and Pans may pose dangers that you may not even know about Microwave Oven emits radiation even when not in use; creates more health trouble when used frequently! Return from Toxins in Your Household page to Health Robbers page Return from Toxins in Your Household page to Ez-Detox-Diet.com home page Return to Top of Toxins in Your Household page
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