How chemical contaminants in the home affect your health

Maintaining a clean, nice and cozy home is a priority. But sometimes that maintenance has a cost, particularly in our health. When we go shopping and bought items for cleaning our home only we think of the smell of our home and will look shiny, but we think we are carrying pollutants to our house. The existing chemical pollution in a home can be the cause of many health problems, even behavior, but we realize it.

Chemical contaminants

A chemical contaminant is one organic or inorganic compound with the ability to produce health damage when in contact with a person. These contaminants can be in the form of gases, liquids or solids and may have different toxicity levels according to their chemical composition.

These toxic chemicals can enter the human body through different pathways: inhalation (when we breathe polluted air), ingestion or absorption through the skin.

In our residence you cannot miss a detergent, insecticide, air freshener or bleach, or many other products to keep our homes clean and attractive. Without realizing it, we are contributing to the pollution of our environment. The use of these products and the subsequent pollution can cause us a number of signs or symptoms that endanger our health. Considering the time we spend in our homes, it is important to know the effects of this pollution.

The pollutants and their effects

Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are gases that can be found in residences where stoves, heating and other gas-based computers are used. The effects may include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and even death if exposure is prolonged. These effects may be more severe if the residence is not well ventilated.

Paintings: may contain lead

Lead is an element that can be found in the paintings of old residences, since the use of it was banned for many years, but can also be found in other ways. When lead enters the human body can cause a number of health effects such as learning disabilities or behavioral problems in children, brain damage, and anemia, fertility problems in men, spontaneous abortion, renal damage, and increased pressure blood, among others.

Hair color:  Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is an important chemical used in the industry. This compound can be found in many household products such as disinfectants, deodorants, perfumes, hair dyes, medical products, fertilizers, nail polishes, dyes. It is also used in the textile industry and conservation bodies. The effects of exposure to these derivatives may be irritation of the eyes and skin, breathing problems, asthma attacks, and others. Animal studies and exposure to formaldehyde have linked this pollution with carcinogenic effects (carcinogens).

Bottle: May contain Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A is a chemical used to make plastics. It can be found in plastic utensils, water bottles, baby bottles, CD's, DVD's, sealants and coating cans in food and non-stick surfaces of pots and pans. The effects of this chemical can be varied and in most cases the most affected infants and children. Some of its effects are infertility, obesity, behavioral problems, and has also been associated with incidents of cancer.

Other chemical contaminants in your home that can affect the health of your family are chlorine, ammonia, cigarette smoke, aerosols; that prolonged exposure to these diseases that can cause us perhaps with some preventive measures can avoid. Know your environment and how this may be affecting your health. A clean environment these contaminants can improve the health of your family.