HEALTH-THEE : TOP 10 TOXINS LURKING IN YOUR HOME

Most of us like to think of our homes as safe places, but there are countless toxins lurking unsuspected in everything from cleaning products to couches.

(Please) Read
on to learn which ten toxins you may be unknowingly exposing yourself to on a daily basis.


1. MELAMINE

Found primarily in plastic dishes,
cookware, and kitchen gadgets, the
chemical melamine has been linked with a high risk for kidney stones. You’re more likely to ingest it when eating or drinking something hot out of a melamine-containing dish, and a recent study found that people who ate one serving of soup from such a bowl had an
eight-times higher melamine content in their urine than those who ate out of a ceramic bowl.


2. PENTABDE

Although this flame-retardant chemical was phased out in 2005, most of us haven’t purchased a new couch that recently.

A 2012 study found that 39%
of the couches examined contained this chemical, which can cause thyroid issues and interfere with brain development.


3. TRIS

In the same study of flame-retardant chemicals in couches, researchers discovered this likely carcinogen in 24% of the couches studied.


4. BPA

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is commonly found in plastics, like the type used to make reusable water bottles and children’s toys, but it can also be found in the linings of most cans. It has been linked to hormone disruption.

Luckily, BPA has become a hot issue, and so many companies are now taking steps to phase out its usage.


5. PHTHALATES

In 2010, researchers at Mount Sinai found that phlathates, which can be found in cosmetics, various types of plastics, nutritional supplements, soaps, and countless other consumer products, can interfere with the endocrine
system.

They may also be related to
ADHD in young children.


6. PFCS

Polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) are largely found in protective coatings on everything from nonstick frying pans to furniture.

A 2012 study found that
pregnant women who were exposed to high levels of PFCs tended to have babies that were underweight at birth.


7. TRICLOSAN

A common ingredient in antibacterial soaps, triclosan is also used as a pesticide, and has been linked to birth defects, cancer, and neurological problems.


8. FORMALDEHYDE

Commonly associated with science labs, formaldehyde is also a common ingredient in floor finishes, adhesives, polishes, and resins. Formaldehyde is a proven carcinogen, so be sure to ventilate properly when using any of these products.


9. SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Found primarily in drain cleaners, sodium hydroxide can lead to abdominal pain, vomiting, burns, blood pressure drop, and even death if inhaled or swallowed.


10. LEAD

Although banned in more recent
decades, homes built before 1978 that have not been deleaded may still contain lead-filled paint. Children are at a particular risk for lead poisoning, which can result in brain damage, learning disorders, and delayed growth.

Do you try to avoid products that
contain these ingredients?