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The Environmental Protection Agency said that the air pollution we breathe indoors may be five times that of outdoor air pollution.
This is largely our fault because we have no intention of introducing products that reduce air quality into our homes.
Although we may know that secondhand smoke, radon gas and mold can harm our indoor air quality, many sources of indoor air pollution are not obvious.
There are eight here that might surprise you. 1. Candles.
Although you may appreciate the atmosphere they create, candles will fill your home with harmful gases and deposits.
It doesn't always matter whether candles are paraffin, vegetable oil, soy or beeswax.
During the burning process, all candles release some soot carbon particles that spread in the air and cause breathing problems.
Paraffin has its own problem.
It is a by-product of oil, coal or shale, and it has become white in industry.
Powerful bleach containing dioxin.
Another compound related to the risk of lung cancer in cigarette smoke, acroaldehyde, was added to the wax as a curing agent.
While the candle industry insists that the final product is inert, research has shown that burning paraffin candles can release large amounts of benzene and toluene
Two known carcinogens
In the atmosphere.
Even if you buy a high
End the candle and it won't make it safer.
Candles from retailers such as bedding, toiletries, Yankee Candle shops, crates and barrels are mostly made of paraffin.
Add artificial dyes and synthetic spices commonly used in candles, especially artificial dyes and synthetic spices for aromatherapy.
The formula for the candle varies, but spices and dyes usually contain toxic plasticizer and solvents.
If you can't live without candles, think about candles made of beeswax or vegetable oil and natural dyes and perfumes. 2. Dryer Sheets.
Due to the smell magic of the fabric softener sheet, there is very little smell as comfortable as the warm clothes taken out of the dryer.
But have you ever thought about what wax feels like in those dry sheets when you touch them, is a surface active substance that will cover your clothes to keep them
This compound also carries positive electricity, helping to remove static electricity.
It is usually composed of a mixture of ammonium salt (associated with asthma), silicone oil, or hyaluronic acid (derived from animal fat.
When these ingredients are heated in the dryer, they are liquefied and cover the clothes.
In essence, your fabric is not soft
They just apply a layer of fat to make you feel like they are.
In addition to the surface active substance, there are spices containing toxins that enter the air when discharged from the dryer exhaust port.
Because perfume manufacturers use trade secrets, consumers cannot know what they contain.
Federal law only requires cleaning products to list active disinfectants or known hazardous ingredients.
A study published in the August 2011 issue of air quality, atmosphere and health suggests that scented laundry items usually contain a large number of carcinogens and toxins not listed on the package, including aldehyde and
Researchers at the University of Washington say the air discharged from machines using scented laundry detergent and dryers is toxic.
It's best to throw away all the dryer sheets.
But if you insist on using them, stick to the option of using less toxic.
The seventh generation manufactures dryer sheets that do not contain spices or masking agents.
The company also disclosed all the ingredients of the sheets, including plants
Derivative softener. 3. Carpets.
Although you may like this "new carpet smell", this famous smell is actually an unusual one
Gas release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including toluene, Bromo, benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene and acetone.
Daily exposure to these chemicals is known to cause headaches, throat and eye irritation, allergies, confusion and drowsiness.
Synthetic carpets containing nylon and olefin fibers are often the worst violations.
Frequent exposure to a large number of these toxins can cause long periods of time.
Terminology issues including learning and memory disorders, birth defects, decreased fertility, and liver, thyroid, ovary, kidney, and blood diseases.
Benzene is a well.
Known human carcinogens and formaldehyde are possible human carcinogens.
Some new carpets also have moths.
Anti-chemical substances known to produce toxic reactions, especially in newborns.
Also found in some carpets p-
Chlorhexidine, a known carcinogenic substance, produces fetal abnormalities when tested in animals.
But it's not just new carpets that cause problems.
When the old carpet no longer falls off
Over time, these chemicals, mites and their feces began to penetrate into the nap.
Feces can cause serious allergic reactions in many people, and researchers have just started to link exposure to dust worms to asthma.
Household dust may also contain high levels of lead, as heavy metals still penetrate into our soil during the days of lead paint and gasoline.
When we walk on the carpet wearing shoes, we also add toxins to the carpet, tracking dirt and pesticides that are contaminated outdoors.
Almost any toxic substance we use at home, from paint to pesticides, to candles or fireplace soot, can settle into carpet fibers and then spread into the air.
Consider investing in a high quality HEPA vacuum cleaner that can help clear many toxins without putting them back in the air.
You can also purchase the carpet "Green Label Plus" certified by the carpet and carpet Institute, which evaluates whether the carpet has low VOCs emissions. 4. Kitchen Stove.
We don't advocate throwing away your stove, but a well-ventilated kitchen can cause a lot of air pollution in your house, whether you're a culinary genius or not.
Gas stoves are particularly worrying because they emit more nitrogen oxides, a highly active gas generated when burning fuel at high temperatures.
A strong antioxidant that is mixed with air to produce nitric acid and toxic organic nitrate.
These will stimulate the lungs and reduce resistance to respiratory infections such as influenza.
According to EPA, frequent exposure to environments with higher concentrations than normal ambient air can lead to acute respiratory disease in children.
The solution to reducing exposure to nitrogen oxides is simple.
Ensure the kitchen is well ventilated during and within minutes of cooking.
High investment-
High-quality ventilation fans, especially range hoods, can greatly improve the air quality.
You should use ventilation whenever you cook, not just when you burn things.
If, like some apartments, fan ventilation is not possible, try to open the window nearby to cook. 5.
Cleaning products.
Cleaning your home is important for air quality as it removes dust, mold and other particles from the air.
However, many traditional household cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals.
Even cleaners marked with "green" or "organic" labels may contain ingredients that may cause health problems.
It is worth noting that the natural citrus fragrance can react with the air and produce dangerous pollutants indoors.
But traditional cleaning products are still a lot worse because they may contain alcohol, chlorine, ammonia or oil.
All of this can have a negative effect on health, stimulate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches.
Some cleaning products release dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds, which can cause chronic respiratory problems and aggravate allergies, asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Products containing VOCs include most aerosol, chlorine bleach, carpet and upholstery cleaners, furniture and floor cleaners, and oven cleaners.
Chlorine bleach is particularly hard to eat.
Mixing it with any acidic detergent such as ammonia or vinegar produces chlorine gas (yes, the same as the gas used in chemical warfare), which immediately causes health problems and even death when inhaled
If you want to keep the air clean while cleaning, consider using products with less toxicity and lower price, such as hydrogen peroxide (for disinfection, stain removal and bleaching ), tea tree oil and water (for mold removal and as disinfectant) and white vinegar (for cleaning glass, counters and tiles ).
These common household items are as effective as high-end ones
End the green cleaning product if not better. 6. Paint.
Even if you haven't painted the room for years, the paint on the wall will still do some damage to your lungs and even your brain.
People living in old houses may still have walls painted with lead paint, which was banned in the late 1970 s.
Even after decades of painting in the room, lead can still be a powerful neurotoxin as the paint continues to fall off, peel off and peel off the surface.
Many of these pieces will break down and crush into tiny pieces to become part of the dust inside your breath.
If you are concerned about lead paint in old homes, you should contact a licensed paint contractor to help you find ways to mitigate exposure.
Newer paint can also pose some health risks to the home as many of them contain VOCs and may fall off
A few weeks, even months later, a room was painted with gas. The short-
The long-term risks of these paint smoke are headache, dizziness, nausea, worsening asthma, fatigue, skin allergies, confusion and memory disorders.
When buying paint, look for brands with lower volatile organic content. Low-VOC and zero-
VOC paint is as good as standard indoor and outdoor paint.
They also dry faster and are better for you and the environment. 7. Air Fresheners.
While air fresheners can mask bad smells, in practice, air fresheners can make indoor air worse by discharging toxic pollutants to levels that can lead to health risks. Many clean-
Air advocates compare their toxicity to those of second-hand smoke.
There is a lot of research to support these claims.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found
Sell fresheners containing large amounts of ethylene
It is known that GaN-based ether with the function of creating nerves and blood, including fatigue, nausea, tremor and anemia.
EPA and the California Air Resources Commission classified these ether as hazardous air pollutants.
Many air fresheners also contain neighboring benzene Ester, a household chemical commonly used to soften plastics.
In many plastic home products and toys you will find phthal salts, but they are also used in air fresheners to support the fragrance.
Since the manufacturer of air fresheners does not need to disclose all ingredients, it is difficult to determine which products contain these ingredients.
Phthal salts are known endocrine disruptors and can be particularly harmful to infants and children without endocrine systems.
Phthalate has a significant effect on developing male sexual organs, and is associated with abnormal development of male genitals, poor semen quality and low testosterone levels. 8. Air Purifiers.
Consumers know that there may be dangerous pollutants in the air at home, so they invest in air purifiers to remove these toxins.
However, some air purifiers release a lot of ozone into the atmosphere, which has a pleasant sweet smell (similar to what you might smell after a thunderstorm ).
Consumers should not be fooled by what their noses tell them;
Ozone is a powerful lung stimulating substance, and continuous exposure to ozone is associated with the deterioration of chronic lung diseases such as chronic lung disease and asthma.
It can also be harmful to babies, even leaving scars on their lungs during early development.
About a decade ago, the consumer report found that some popular air purifiers, especially those with clearer images, released a lot of unhealthy ozone into the atmosphere.
Since then, the EPA has warned against the use of ozone emitters as air purifiers, and the California Air Resources Commission has banned air purification systems that emit large amounts of ozone.
However, you will still see some air purifiers for sale online and in the store.
This is not to say that all air purifiers are bad;
In fact, many people do a good job of removing air pollutants and protecting their health.
If you are interested in purchasing an air purifier, we recommend that you use a Good Housekeeping guide to help you make your decision.