Hazardous Chemicals in the Home

Thousands of new chemicals that didn't exist hundreds of years ago are now commonly used in today's household products. Other chemicals that have long existed are being used in ways as never before. With all the daily contact that we have with chemicals, many people are concerned and have questions about how these chemicals may affect them.

Q: What kinds of chemicals am I exposed to?

A: While there are many products which are made from a single chemical, most products are mixtures. The amount of active ingredient(s) may be small with the rest being fillers, preservatives, coloring or perfumes.

Typical formulations commonly found in homes are:

• Cleaners -- Detergent and Solvent Based
• Bleaches -- Chlorine and oxygen based
• Fertilizers
• Pesticides
• Deodorizers -- Sprays, Electrical Plug-ins and Evaporative wick type
• Paints, coatings and sealers

Q: How do chemicals in the home make you sick?

A: For a chemical to affect you first it must be able to get on or in your body. Chemicals can enter the body through the lungs, the stomach, and even the skin.

Once the chemicals are on or in your body, different chemicals have different effects; they can irritate, intoxicate, or otherwise affect specific tissues and organs. What the specific effect for a product will be depends on the nature of the chemicals themselves, how they are combined, how much is encountered and even the sensitivity of the person.

It is important that you understand the hazards of the products you use.

Q: How do I know how dangerous my products are?

A: Read the label! While the print may be small, there should be a lot of information there for you.

Get the MSDS! A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be available from the seller or manufacturer of the product. A good MSDS provides a great deal of information about the safe handling and disposal of your product. If there isn't enough information or you don’t understand it, get help.

Call the manufacturer! The label and/or MSDS should have a contact number for further information.

Q: What about natural or environmentally safe products?

A: "Environmentally safe" may not mean safe to you. Environmentally safe should mean that when disposed of, a product will break down quickly or become much less harmful in the environment. When concentrated or fresh the product may still cause harm when directly breathed, eaten or spilled on skin or eyes.

Q: Is my chemical exposure too high?

A: Many, but not all chemicals have legal or recommended air concentration limits. To know for sure if your exposure exceeds legal or professionally recommended limits requires testing and evaluation of the results by an appropriate professional such as an industrial hygienist. In the meantime, take precautions.

Q: How can I limit the risks of using household chemicals?

A: Six things:

1. Use your products properly
   
   • Follow the directions on the label and the MSDS.
   • Be sure the product is actually intended for what you want to do.
   • Don’t use excessive amounts.
   • Give your product time to work before applying more.
   • Don't mix products.
   • Some products that are relatively safe separately can react and create problems.
   • A common example is what happens when bleach and ammonia are mixed.
2. Control your exposure
   If possible, go outside while the product is working. Keep children, pets, and visitors away from the work area or enclosure if possible.
3. Ventilate
   If you must remain in an area during the product use, be sure that there is plenty of fresh air to dilute any vapors or fumes resulting from the product use. When in doubt open the windows and doors.
4. Substitute your product for a safer or easier to use product
   If a product seems like it might be too harmful, look for another product that can do the same job but has different ingredients. Detergent cleaners might be able replace of solvent cleaners. Citrus oils work very well to remove grease.
5. Eliminate unneeded products
   Try to use only those products you actually need. This way you have fewer opportunities for reactions, leftovers, and surprises.
6. Use the safety equipment recommended on the label and/or MSDS.
   Many labels and MSDS’s recommend the use of gloves, respirators, goggles, or other protective equipment. Use them! Be sure however that you chose the right safety equipment. The use of the wrong equipment may not protect you and in may only provide a false sense of security.

Conclusion
It is understandable how people can be confused and concerned about the many products and mixtures that they are using in their homes, but with reasonable precautions, consumers should be able to use these products safely.

Dr. Levine is a Certified Industrial Hygienist with an independent consulting practice operating nationwide for twenty years with current emphasis in the Southern California and South Florida areas. Dr Levine can be contacted by e-mail at msl01@pacbell.net. More information is available at http://www.environmental-healthsafety.com