Laden with toxins, pesticides, gases, mites and moulds, it's no wonder
scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency believe the air inside
is more toxic than it is outside.
And as we spend 90 % of our lives indoors, are we putting ourselves at
greater risk of becoming ill or contracting life-shortening diseases? If so,
what should we look out for?
Shower head
The slime that builds up inside a shower head is a breeding ground for
bugs linked to lots of diseases. Tests found 30% of shower heads contained
Mycobacterium avium, a bug linked to lung disease and one related to the germ
that causes TB.
What to do: Soak your shower head in warm white vinegar for 20
minutes, then wipe off with a kitchen towel. Do it weekly.
Flooring
Plywood, press board (like MDF) and other manufactured woods emit
formaldehyde, which is used to glue them together. Formaldehyde and other
volatile organic compounds can cause nausea, dizziness and allergy symptoms and
chronic exposure can damage your liver and central nervous system.
What to do:
Make sure your home is well ventilated at all times. There are lots of
eco-friendly decorating materials that are VOC, a volatile organic compound,
and chemical-free.
Furniture
Fire and flame retardants found in mattresses, upholstery,television and
computer casings and circuit boards contain chemicals called PBDEs. Studies
have linked these to learning and memory problems, low sperm count and thyroid
malfunction.
What to do:
Throw away any old polyurethane foam furniture. Use a vacuum fitted with
a Hepa filter, which is more efficient at trapping small particles and will
remove more contaminants and other allergens.
Beauty products
Phthalates, also called plasticisers, go into a lot of everyday
products, including hairsprays, shampoos, fragrances and deodorants. These all
contain hormone-like chemicals, which have been linked to reproductive and
developmental problems in animals, including low sperm count as well as
premature breast development in girls.
What to do:
Use products containing only natural ingredients and avoid synthetic
chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals,
ethanol, synthetic fragrances or colourants.
Times of India
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