With the industrial age came chemicals. Chemicals used to manufacture products, spray on foods, clean our homes, wash our cloths, and more. Manufacturers that produced chemicals for weapons of war in the past are now producing disinfectants and other products for our homes. These toxic chemicals seem to be properly labeled with warnings like "Danger! Do not swallow!" but our homes are full of chemicals that are not labeled. They have become full of contaminating chemicals emitting gases and our bodies are experiencing sensitivity reactions. Being chemically sensitive can be a serious problem to some of us, and a severe problem for others. We are no longer safe in our homes.
The home retains chemical smells and gases. This airborne contamination should be cleaned with an air purifier. With a well-built air purifier, you can remove these toxins. The system you choose should have a High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filter with an activated carbon blend. This combination is very effective at removing chemical contaminates and reducing the health risks associated with being chemically sensitive.
Who Is At Risk to Chemical Exposure?
The elderly and children are most at risk with chemical exposure. Although chemical exposures are typically short-term low dose exposures, sometimes there can be prolonged heavy dose exposures capable of making us very ill. As a result of household chemicals, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that indoor air quality may be three to ten times more polluted than outdoor air.
What Is Our Government Doing?
Our government should protect us from exposure to toxic chemicals. However, the only real protection we have is with the Toxic Substances Control Act. This act does not require any chemical studies when new products are introduced into the market. If they are unsafe, consumers are usually the ones who often identify the health risks. This includes toxic chemicals that can be linked to cancer, illnesses, and infertility. We don't realize that we are being exposed. Everyday products like dish soap, laundry detergent, furniture, and cleaning agents can pollute our air and subsequently enter our bloodstreams. In recent years, Bisphenol-A, a common element in plastic bottles, was linked to cancer. The Canadian government declared the substance "dangerous," and banned products containing the element. The Food and Drug Administration stated that levels of the element are below those that may cause health effects and took no action. However, due to consumer pressure, Nalgene, a large manufacturer of bottles, and other manufacturers phased out the chemical. This is similar to what happened with formaldehyde. Furniture was being built with press board containing resins that emitted formaldehyde in a gas form. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogenic and considered a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) that makes you ill or if concentrated, can be fatal. These formaldehyde resins are now being phased out.
What Should We Do?
We need to just stop buying these carcinogenic, damaging chemical products and support toxin-free products. Buy formaldehyde free furniture, VOC-free paints and improve home air quality with toxin-free house cleaners and other household goods. Everyone is at risk of exposure unless our government takes proactive measures to regulate chemicals and require companies to disclose full ingredient lists on their bottles. In the meantime, use an air purifier to eliminate chemicals from your air.
