Potentially dangerous chemicals can be found in every room in
your home. If not properly stored or used, these products could
cause minor to serious and even life-threatening health problems
for you or your children. What are these every day household
chemicals? Let's take a tour of the rooms of your home and
discover what some of these chemicals are and what health harms
they may cause.
Keep in mind that most household cleaning products and
pesticides are reasonably safe when used as directed, and that the
level of toxicity of a product is dependent on the dose of the
product used (never use more than the amount listed on the label)
and the length of exposure to the product.
In the garage
Antifreeze. Ethylene glycol, the main hazardous
ingredient of antifreeze, is extremely poisonous. Though inhalation
of the fumes can causes dizziness, swallowing antifreeze will cause
severe damage to the heart, kidneys, and brain. Antifreeze can be
fatal if swallowed.
- Safety tips: If you need to clean up antifreeze -
the bright green or yellow liquid you find in your garage or
driveway - make sure you wear gloves because ethylene glycol
is absorbed through the skin. Also, keep your pets away from
spilled antifreeze. Pets are attracted to antifreeze because of its
sweet smell, but licking or drinking the fluid can kill your pet. A
much safer alternative to ethylene glycol is propylene glycol.
Before purchasing antifreeze, look at the label to identify
products containing the less toxic chemical, propylene glycol.
Motor oil. Used oil or waste motor oil may be
contaminated with magnesium, copper, zinc, and other heavy metals
deposited from your vehicle's engine. Oil contains chemicals
that can cause nerve and kidney damage and that are suspected of
causing cancer.
Latex paint. Unless ingested in large quantities,
water-soluble latex paints are not highly toxic. However, some
latex paints emit formaldehyde when drying. High levels of
formaldehyde can give you a headache and irritate your eyes, nose
and throat.
Oil-based paint. Oil-based paint contains organic
solvents that can be irritating to eyes and skin, and can cause
cracking of skin. Inhaling paint fumes can result in headaches,
nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Most of these symptoms go away once
you go out into fresh air. However, frequent exposure to these
chemicals in the presence of poor air circulation can cause kidney,
liver, and blood problems.
- Safety tips: When painting, keep windows and doors fully
open. Place a box fan in a window to direct air and fumes outdoors.
Keep the fan on while painting and for 48 hours thereafter. Keep
small children away from the room being painted and away from open
paint cans.