Ivanhoe Newswire – From toys, to containers, to perfume; most of us think if it's on a store shelf it's been tested and is safe. However, that's not always the case. Toxins are lurking inside products you use every day.
You can smell it. You can swallow it. It can even absorb into your body through your skin. We're talking about harmful toxins that may be sitting around your home that you didn't even know were dangerous.
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First, get rid of harsh cleaning products. We not only contaminate the air when we use them, products with ammonia can trigger asthma attacks.
Harsh oven cleaners and drain openers can cause respiratory damage or burn children's skin that come into contact with them.
Also, throw out stuff with synthetic fragrances. The term "fragrance" or "parfum" on personal-care product labels can be a cover for hundreds of harmful chemicals known to be carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, and reproductive toxicants, even at low levels.
Next, get rid of your antibacterial soap. It contains triclosan, and so do many deodorants, hand sanitizers, and toothpaste. The antimicrobial chemical is believed to disrupt thyroid function and hormone levels in people. When mixed into wastewater, it can cause sex changes in aquatic life. Experts believe the overuse of triclosan is promoting growth of bacteria resistant to antibacterial treatment.
The FDA recently ruled that antibacterial soap manufactures would have to prove that their soaps are not only safe, but also more effective than plain soap or water, or they will take it off the shelves in the next few years.
Minnesota is the first state to ban the use of triclosan in consumer hygiene products. The ban will take effect Jan. 1, 2017.
Links for more information:
rodalenews.com/12-household-toxins-banish-your-home
bigstory.ap.org/article/minnesota-bans-anti-bacterial-chemical-soaps
gizmodo.com/minnesota-just-became-the-first-state-to-ban-anti-bacte-1579074417
my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/safety/hic_household_chemicals_the_basics.aspx