Our homes are our sanctuary, but our sanctuary could be slowly poisoning us. Dangerous chemicals can be found in surprising places.
From the moment you wake up, to making a late-night snack, several things you do and several places in your home could be slowly poisoning you.
In the bedroom, the mattress you’re lying on may be made from petroleum-based polyfoams which typically contain formaldehyde, synthetic latex, hazardous solvents and fireproofing chemicals.
In the bathroom, experts say there’s a constant buildup of bacteria within the showerhead. A study out of Manchester University found the water coming out of the showerhead is ditier than toilet water and could be directly linked to Legionnaire’s and Crohn’s disease.
In your closet, polyester, nylon and anything labeled non-iron cotton often contain unregulated toxic chemicals, which have recently been linked to the rise in autoimmune disease, infertility, and asthma.
In your kitchen, if you fry your eggs in a non-stick Teflon pan, you may be putting yourself at risk for high cholesterol, early menopause, and thyroid issues.
And according to the FDA, there are documented cases of heat radiation leaking through gaps in the sealing of microwaves causing nerve damage.
The best way to protect yourself — read the labels and be sure the products you bring inside your home are not toxic.
Also, cleaning your home could worsen the chemical problem. A study in the Chemosphere Journal found 503 unique volatile organic compounds in just 30 different cleaning products. Of that number, 193 are considered hazardous. To see the list of all of these, go to www.ewg.org.