Living Green: The Missing Manual

How Household Chemicals Can Affect Your Health

The following table spells out health problems that common household chemicals can cause.

Tip

Household products are packed with potentially harmful substances, so this table can't cover them all. If you want to learn about a specific product or ingredient, check the Household Products Database from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov. Search for a product by name to see possible health effects and safe handling instructions. Search for an ingredient to get a list of products that contain it, along with links to information about its toxicity.

Chemical	Health Effects	Found In
Ammonia	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; skin problems; aggravation of asthma symptoms	Cleaning products, paint stripper, adhesive removers, some fertilizers
Ammonium hydroxide	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; aggravation of asthma symptoms	Cleaning products, disinfectants, metal polishes, car care products, carpet and upholstery cleaners
Benzene	Cancer	Adhesive removers, degreasers, interior paints, dry-cleaning solvents
Chlordane	With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage; cancer	Flea powders, pesticides
Chlorine bleach	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; skin problems; aggravation of asthma symptoms	Cleaning and laundry products, toilet-bowl cleaners
Chloroform	Central nervous system damage; possibly cancer	Dryer sheets; adhesive removers
Cresol	With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage	Antibacterial cleaning products, disinfectants, deodorizers, pesticides
Dichlorophene	With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage; cancer	Flea powders, pesticides
Ethylene glycol	Dizziness; heart, brain, kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage	Antifreeze, de-icers, brake fluid, adhesives, paints
Formaldehyde	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; aggravation of asthma symptoms; headaches; nausea; fatigue; memory problems; possibly cancer	Adhesives, sealers, paint, caulk
Glycol ethers	Infertility	Water-based paints
Hydrochloric acid	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; aggravation of asthma symptoms	Cleaning products, toilet-bowl cleaners
Lye	Blindness (from direct contact with eyes); skin irritation	Drain uncloggers, oven cleaners, dishwasher detergents
Methanol	With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage	Antifreeze, de-icers, car care products, shellacs, adhesive removers, paint strippers
Naphthalene	Cataracts (with long-term exposure); nausea	Carpet cleaners, car care products, paints, insect repellants
Oxalic acid	With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage	Toilet-bowl cleaners, car care products, cleansers, metal polish
Ozone	Respiratory system damage	Given off by printers and copiers
Pentane	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; skin problems	Solvents, dryer sheets, fabric softeners
Perchloroethylene (also called tetrachloroethylene)	Dizziness; headache; nausea; skin irritation. With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage;possibly cancer	Adhesives and sealants, car care products, polishes, spot cleaners; dry-cleaning solvents
Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctane sulfonate	Infertility in women	Pesticides, stain-resistant upholstery, adhesives, nonstick cookware coatings
Phenol (a.k.a. carbolic acid)	Skin irritation. With long-term exposure: kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage	Antibacterial cleaning products
Sodiumhypochlorite	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; aggravation of asthma symptoms; skin irritation	Cleaning products, disinfectants, drain uncloggers
Toluene	Eye, nose, and throat irritation; dizziness; nausea; central nervous system damage; cardiac arrest	Adhesives, solvents, paints, car care products.
Triclosan	Liver damage	Antibacterial soaps and cleaning products, pet shampoos
Trichloroethane	Dizziness; liver and central nervous system damage	Adhesives, lubricants, furniture cleaners
Xylene	Dizziness; eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory problems; nausea; kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage	Adhesives and sealants, car care products, paints, pesticides

Note

This list is overview of some of the health problems household chemicals can cause, but of course it's not diagnostic. If you're suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned here, see your doctor.

The kinds of symptoms you have depend on the type of chemical, how concentrated it is, and how long you're exposed to it. For example, people whose work exposes them to high levels of VOCs, like painters and cleaners, are most likely to suffer health problems. Over time, even low-level exposure can cause problems, especially in kids, the elderly, people with existing conditions such as asthma or allergies, and folks who are extra sensitive to chemicals.

If you use products that contain any of the chemicals in this list, buy small quantities so you won't have to worry about disposing of leftovers. Also, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area (fresh air reduces the concentration of VOCs) and follow the manufacturer's directions. Never mix different kinds of cleaning products: Mixing ammonia with bleach, for example, creates chloramine gas, which is highly toxic—and often fatal—when inhaled.

Tip

Because VOCs can leak from closed containers, don't keep old, half-empty bottles of cleaning products, paint strippers, or other VOC-filled chemicals in your home. But don't just toss them in the trash, either—read on to learn how to get rid of them safely.

Disposing of Household Chemicals

By now, you're probably ready to gather up all your cleaning products and dump them in the trash. Not so fast: While it's a good idea to remove harsh chemicals from your home, you need to dispose of them safely. The earth will thank you for it.

To get rid of household chemicals, don't throw them in the trash, pour them down a drain, or burn them. If your community has a day designated for hazardous waste pickup, unload them then. If you're not sure how to dispose of hazardous waste where you live, call your city's waste department or your garbage company or go to www.earth911.com. This helpful site lets you type in the kind of stuff you want to get rid of (such as paint or household cleaners) and your Zip code, and it finds a disposal facility near you.

Tip

Head to this book's Missing CD page at www.missingmanuals.com for a list of all the websites mentioned in this book.

When it comes to health—yours, your family's, the environment's—you don't want to take chances. Luckily, you don't need to expose your family to harmful chemicals and indoor air pollutants because there are simple, healthier alternatives. As the next section explains, you can make your home greener and healthier in no time.