Chemicals Safety - How To Use Household Chemicals Safely
You want your home to be clean and free of pests, bacteria, and viruses to keep your family and pets healthy. But the very same household chemicals you use to clean your home can pose potential health risks of their own.
Many products that you may use almost daily in and around your home can cause adverse health effects for you, your family, and your pets. Always think about safety before buying, using, and storing household chemicals.
Here is a list of common household chemicals and their possible health effects:
Air-freshening agents can cause eye, skin, and nasal irritation, cancer, nervous system damage, and respiratory problems including pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
Antifreeze can cause dizziness if inhaled and severe damage to internal organs, including the heart and kidneys, if swallowed. Animals are drawn to the sweet smell of antifreeze, and it can be fatal for pets if ingested.
Car and boat batteries can cause skin burns, as well as kidney and nerve damage and possibly cancer due to their lead and sulfuric acid content.
Bleach can cause irritation to the nasal passages, mouth and lungs, and damage to the skin.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners can cause liver damage, cataracts, and possibly cancer from long-term exposure. These cleaners may also trigger dizziness, confusion, decreased appetite, and nausea.
Cleaning products can cause eye and lung irritation from inhaling fumes, and rashes or burns from skin exposure. Potentially lethal gases may form if cleaners like ammonia are mixed with bleach.
Drain openers can cause skin burns and possible blindness if they get in the eyes.
Flea and tick treatments can cause cancer in pets, as well as headaches, nausea, and dizziness if inhaled by people.
Furniture polish can cause respiratory, skin, and eye irritation, as well as vomiting and nausea if ingested.
Insect bombs, like household foggers, can cause severe allergic reactions, nervous system damage, and respiratory, skin, and eye irritation, as well as headache, nausea, vomiting, and ringing in the ears.
Laundry detergents can cause eye and skin irritation, as well as nausea, vomiting, and seizures if ingested.
Oven cleaners can cause severe burns to the eyes and skin, and even death if swallowed.
Insecticides and insect traps with bait can cause cancer in pets; headaches, nausea, and dizziness if inhaled by humans.
Mold and mildew-killing products can cause respiratory problems, and severe irritation and burns to the throat if ingested.
Mothballs can cause liver damage and cataracts from long-term exposure, as well as skin, throat, and eye irritation, dizziness, and headaches.
Motor oil can cause damage to nerves and kidneys and has been linked to cancer.
Toilet bowl cleansers can cause skin burns, eye and respiratory tract irritation, and possibly cancer.
Safety First With Household Chemicals
Household chemicals are generally safe to use — if used appropriately. Ensure that you always follow the instructions on the product label. Protect your skin with gloves, wear long shirts and pants, and use safety goggles when necessary. Also make sure the area where you are using household chemicals is well ventilated, so that you don't inhale too many fumes.
Read ingredient labels on all household chemicals before you buy them — so you understand just how dangerous they can be and how to protect yourself. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consumers should pay special attention to products whose labels include words like corrosive, toxic, and flammable, as well as poison, danger, and caution. Be sure to store household chemicals safely in a locked closet or cabinet that children and pets can't access.
Protecting the Environment From Household Chemicals
Now that you know what certain household chemicals can do your health, think about what they can do to the environment if they're not handled properly.
Don't simply pour household chemicals down the sink, toss bottles into the trash can, or dump waste outside in the yard. These chemicals can pose a danger to trash collectors, as well as to plant life and the water supply.
To find out how to safely dispose of your household chemicals, always read the label on the back of the product and follow the recommended instructions. Hazardous chemicals that can’t be included with regular trash need to be set aside and brought to a community hazardous waste collection facility or to a special collection event like an annual clean-up drive. Check with local government agencies for details about how to dispose of specific household chemicals.
Many products that you may use almost daily in and around your home can cause adverse health effects for you, your family, and your pets. Always think about safety before buying, using, and storing household chemicals.
Here is a list of common household chemicals and their possible health effects:
Air-freshening agents can cause eye, skin, and nasal irritation, cancer, nervous system damage, and respiratory problems including pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
Antifreeze can cause dizziness if inhaled and severe damage to internal organs, including the heart and kidneys, if swallowed. Animals are drawn to the sweet smell of antifreeze, and it can be fatal for pets if ingested.
Car and boat batteries can cause skin burns, as well as kidney and nerve damage and possibly cancer due to their lead and sulfuric acid content.
Bleach can cause irritation to the nasal passages, mouth and lungs, and damage to the skin.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners can cause liver damage, cataracts, and possibly cancer from long-term exposure. These cleaners may also trigger dizziness, confusion, decreased appetite, and nausea.
Cleaning products can cause eye and lung irritation from inhaling fumes, and rashes or burns from skin exposure. Potentially lethal gases may form if cleaners like ammonia are mixed with bleach.
Drain openers can cause skin burns and possible blindness if they get in the eyes.
Flea and tick treatments can cause cancer in pets, as well as headaches, nausea, and dizziness if inhaled by people.
Furniture polish can cause respiratory, skin, and eye irritation, as well as vomiting and nausea if ingested.
Insect bombs, like household foggers, can cause severe allergic reactions, nervous system damage, and respiratory, skin, and eye irritation, as well as headache, nausea, vomiting, and ringing in the ears.
Laundry detergents can cause eye and skin irritation, as well as nausea, vomiting, and seizures if ingested.
Oven cleaners can cause severe burns to the eyes and skin, and even death if swallowed.
Insecticides and insect traps with bait can cause cancer in pets; headaches, nausea, and dizziness if inhaled by humans.
Mold and mildew-killing products can cause respiratory problems, and severe irritation and burns to the throat if ingested.
Mothballs can cause liver damage and cataracts from long-term exposure, as well as skin, throat, and eye irritation, dizziness, and headaches.
Motor oil can cause damage to nerves and kidneys and has been linked to cancer.
Toilet bowl cleansers can cause skin burns, eye and respiratory tract irritation, and possibly cancer.
Safety First With Household Chemicals
Household chemicals are generally safe to use — if used appropriately. Ensure that you always follow the instructions on the product label. Protect your skin with gloves, wear long shirts and pants, and use safety goggles when necessary. Also make sure the area where you are using household chemicals is well ventilated, so that you don't inhale too many fumes.
Read ingredient labels on all household chemicals before you buy them — so you understand just how dangerous they can be and how to protect yourself. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consumers should pay special attention to products whose labels include words like corrosive, toxic, and flammable, as well as poison, danger, and caution. Be sure to store household chemicals safely in a locked closet or cabinet that children and pets can't access.
Protecting the Environment From Household Chemicals
Now that you know what certain household chemicals can do your health, think about what they can do to the environment if they're not handled properly.
Don't simply pour household chemicals down the sink, toss bottles into the trash can, or dump waste outside in the yard. These chemicals can pose a danger to trash collectors, as well as to plant life and the water supply.
To find out how to safely dispose of your household chemicals, always read the label on the back of the product and follow the recommended instructions. Hazardous chemicals that can’t be included with regular trash need to be set aside and brought to a community hazardous waste collection facility or to a special collection event like an annual clean-up drive. Check with local government agencies for details about how to dispose of specific household chemicals.
- qnbf624ee925dff20d616b3fff0a5dd9c2.jpg
