page one | two | three | four | five | six

THE TOXIC HOUSE

STOVE - GAS EMISSIONS

Overview:
Unvented combustion sources can emit carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Make sure your gas stove has a vent that exits to the outdoors.

Problems:
Any unvented combustion source - gas stoves, kerosene heaters, charcoal grills used inside - can release toxic gases inside your home. Carbon monoxide interferes with the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion, and disorientation, and fatigue in healthy people. Individuals with chronic heart disease should be particularly mindful. Nitrogen dioxide can irritate the mucous membranes in the eye, nose, and throat and causes shortness of breath after exposure to high concentrations. There is evidence that high concentrations or continued exposure to low levels of nitrogen dioxide increases the risk of respiratory infection.

Solutions:
Gas cook stoves should always have a vent. All natural gas appliances should be regularly inspected and well maintained to ensure proper function. Between inspections, make sure that the external openings of all exhaust vents are not blocked by insulation, leaves, or other debris. Maintain good air supply and ventilation for your fuel-burning equipment. Never use a charcoal or gas barbecue inside your home. A carbon monoxide detector is a must in any household. It too should properly located, installed, tested, and maintained.

VINYL FLOORING - PHTHALATES

Overview:
Phthalates can affect the reproductive tract of male foetuses. Phthalate-free alternatives are available.

Problems:
Phthalates are chemical compounds that help give plastic products their flexibility and soft texture. These "plasticizers" are used extensively in the manufacture of products that range from children's toys to plastic wrap to medical devices in hospitals. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring can sometimes emit small amounts of phthalates into the surrounding air, along with other toxic additives. Phthalates can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled as fumes, ingested when they contaminate food or when children bite or suck on toys.

Solutions:
There are competitively priced alternatives to vinyl flooring available. Ceramic, marble or stone tiles, or wood can be used if a harder surface is desired. Cork flooring is softer, but avoid cork that is sealed with artificial resins. Linoleum, which is often confused for vinyl flooring, is made of renewable materials and has good durability. Try and prevent your child from chewing on plastic toys; better yet, buy natural fibre toys. Toys manufactured in Canada, the US and Europe are usually phthalate-free. Store food in glass or ceramic containers, especially fatty foods like meat, cheese, and butter. If you must use plastic wrap, leave a gap between the food and the wrap. Avoid re-using margarine or yoghurt tubs. If you use plastic cookware or containers, look for polyethylene plastic, which does not contain plasticizers.

BLINDS - LEAD

Overview:
Lead is a harmful pollutant and poses a serious threat to children's health. Remove old vinyl blinds that may be imported from Mexico or Asia.

Problems:
Vinyl blinds deteriorate through prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, causing lead to leech out and join other dust particles, which can be inhaled or ingested. Lead can also be ingested by chewing on the blinds, something children and pets might easily do. Lead affects practically all systems within the body, and over the long-term, it can accumulate in the body's bloodstream, organs and bones. Lower levels of lead can cause adverse health effects on the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells. Blood lead levels as low as 10 micrograms per decilitre can impair mental and physical development, particularly in children.

Solutions:
Health Canada issued warnings about lead in imported vinyl blinds starting in 1996. However, existing blinds in your home may predate this advisory. If you suspect that your vinyl blinds are imported, you can buy home kits that test for lead. Permanently remove the blinds and replace them if possible. Keep small children and pets away from the blinds. Keep cribs and furniture away from the blinds. Get blood tests for your children, even if they appear to be healthy. Wash children's' hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often. Eat a balanced diet, rich in calcium and iron, which can help prevent a buildup of lead deposits in the digestive tract, brain, bones and kidneys.

BATHROOM

SHOWER - CHLOROFORM

Overview:
Long, hot showers increase exposure to chloroform gas. Shorter, cooler showers mean less exposure.

Problems:
Chlorination is an important method of water sanitization used in most municipalities. However, its by-product is chloroform, an invisible gas that forms when the chlorine and organic molecules in the water mix together. The higher the temperature of the water, the more chloroform produced.

Solutions:
Install water flow restrictors in shower heads, reduce the temperature of the shower water, and cut down your showering time. Open the windows, or turn on the exhaust fan whenever hot water is used for showering, bathing, washing dishes or clothes, and indoor spas.

CUPBOARD - CLEANING PRODUCTS

Overview:
Household cleaners can be irritating, toxic, and sometimes carcinogenic. Vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda are good alternatives.

Problems:
Cleaning products comes in all shapes and sizes and most of them contain one or more chemicals that are harmful. A few to be on the look out for: sodium hypochlorite, used in chlorine bleach, can cause lung and eye irritation. Formaldehyde, a preservative in many household products, is a suspected human carcinogen and is a strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin and lungs. Spot removers and carpet cleaners can contain perchloroethylene, an animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen. Phenol and cresol, found in disinfectants have been linked to diarrhea, fainting, and kidney and liver damage. Long-term exposure to certain metal polishes can cause damage to the nervous system, skin, kidneys and eyes.

Solutions:
Less toxic alternatives can be found at organic foods stores, and even some conventional stores. Citrus-based cleaners are very effective as well as environmentally friendly. Made with orange peels, these products are nontoxic, petroleum-free, and biodegradable. Natural acids such as vinegar and lemon juice are good at cutting grease, and when mixed with water, ordinary baking soda can usually do the same job as a commercial can of cleanser or all-purpose spray - without leaving harmful chemicals behind.

AIR FRESHENERS

Overview:
Air fresheners don't freshen the air, they just counteract one smell with another. Open a window or use exhaust fans - or both - to clear the air.

Problems:
Air fresheners work in one of the following ways: they might contain nerve-deadening agents which interfere with your ability to smell; they could coat your nasal passages with an undetectable oil film; they often cover up one smell with another; but they rarely break down the offensive odour. Air freshener is a misnomer - these products do little to "freshen" the air. Aerosol fresheners can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled in high concentrations or for prolonged periods of time. Solid fresheners may be poisonous if eaten by children or pets.

Solutions:
Many products found in the home have a longer lasting effect than air fresheners. Putting sachets of fresh or dried herbal bouquets in different rooms, or even soaking a cotton ball in pure vanilla and waving it around does the trick. Simmer cinnamon and cloves on the oven to get rid of cooking smells. Open windows and ventilate the air whenever possible.

TOP