Cleaning products: are stored underneath the sink. Different chemicals mixed together can create toxic gases that can damage lung tissue or trigger asthma. An alternative to cleaning with these harsh chemicals is to use organic cleaning products, which are found to be less
Your lawn. Your bed. Your desk. What do all these places have in common? Toxins.
Most people probably never consider where the most toxic places are around their homes; however, it is something everyone should be aware of.
One place most people never suspect as a toxin-filled area is their lawn.
The insecticides and herbicides people use on their lawns contain many harmful toxins, according to an article on Health.com.
These both increase the risks of cancer and neurological diseases. Insecticides generally have the potential to be harmful a few days after they have been applied, where herbicides have the potential to last for weeks. The best way to avoid the harmful effects from these is to avoid direct contact with the treated lawn for a period of time.
Another place many people forget may have toxic chemicals is under their kitchen sinks. Most people store their general cleaners here. Ammonia and chlorine bleach, when mixed together, create a toxic gas that can trigger asthma and damage lung tissue.
Steven Dignazio, a junior in criminology, takes precaution when it comes time to clean.
“I try to wear rubber gloves when I clean,” Dignazio said.
As organic foods and products become more available, it is easier to find less harmful cleaning solutions that don’t contain the harsh chemicals that traditional cleaners often include.
“I think they are a better alternative as far as harmfulness,” said Danielle Jones, a junior in nutrition.
Brominated flame retardants, which are in many conventional mattresses, are linked to cancer and hinder immune system function. The chemicals affect almost every organ in a person’s body.
“It’s scary. Toxins in your mattress are really scary to think about,” Jones said.
The chemicals used in dry-cleaning become trapped in the clear plastic bag in which clothes are returned to the customer. These chemicals are then released into the air when the clothes are removed from the bag, releasing carcinogenic vapors.
Even mothballs also contain dangerous chemicals that release carcinogenic vapors. If a child swallows a moth ball, it can be fatal. The vapors released increase an individual’s risk of cancer.
Copy-machine toners, ink cartridges in fax machines and gases from permanent markers can all irritate eyes and lungs.
These are often found in or around a desk, a place where many students spend a significant amount of time.
Many of the things in offices contain neurotoxins, which can cause permanent damage to a person’s nervous system with extended exposure.
“I guess I suspected most of them,” said Jamie Lewis, a senior in industrial and systems engineering. Lewis added the statistics concerning the dry cleaning surprised her.
Most students, however, were not too concerned with the effects these toxins may have on them.
“I don’t really think about it that much,” Lewis said.
