Reprinted without comment.
Source: www.delawarehealthyhomes.org (Dec., 2010).
This article will conclude the company's mentorship month theme: "home office space and organization." I want to review some possible dangers when working from home (or small space areas), or to people who spend most of their time indoors or at home. Throughout the year, I will post additional articles of topic-focus available to your unique household and/or family business.
Source: www.delawarehealthyhomes.org (Dec., 2010).
This article will conclude the company's mentorship month theme: "home office space and organization." I want to review some possible dangers when working from home (or small space areas), or to people who spend most of their time indoors or at home. Throughout the year, I will post additional articles of topic-focus available to your unique household and/or family business.
- Cleaning products - If a cleaning product is hazardous, it will say so on the label. Be aware of the words Toxic, Flammable or Combustible, Corrosive or Strong Sensitizer, Danger, Poison, Warning, or Caution. Suggestion: Make your own cleaning products. For example, mayonnaise can lift crayon marks from furniture. Make furniture polish from 3 parts olive oil and 1 part white vinegar. Cornstarch can keep carpets clean and remove grease stains. Baking soda is great for cleaning the body and your household items: read the box.
- Dry cleaning - When you take the plastic bag off of your dry cleaning in your closet, you're releasing toxic chemicals into a small space--and opening the door to a cancer risk. According to the EPA (government environment protection agency), inhaling the fumes of perchloroethylene--a popular dry-cleaning solvent--can cause cancer. (Source: Environmental Protection Agency [TEAM} Studies, School of Public Health.) Suggestion: Remove the bag from your dry cleaning to air out of the clothing in a well-ventilated area before you bring it into your dwelling.
- Herbicides and pesticides - Recent studies have shown that there is a 600% greater risk of childhood leukemia when kids are exposed to pesticides, including household products that are used to kill pests and lawn chemicals. Such chemicals can affect your children and pets. Suggestion: Pull weeds instead of poisoning them or spray vinegar on them. Or, use organic weed control methods such as corn gluten meal to keep weeds from emerging and to fertilize your lawn.
- Mothballs and air fresheners - Mothballs contain something called paradichlorobenzene. It's a chemical you'll also find in air fresheners, unique households. It can cause headaches, swollen eyes, loss of appetite, nose and throat irritations and even cancer. (Source: Environmental Protection Agency [TEAM} Studies, School of Public Health.) Suggestion: To prevent moth damage and freshen air use cedar chips, cedar blocks, dried lavender and whole peppercorns. Or, simply "open a window." Which we should do a few times a week--anyway--during all seasonal climates. There are certain hours of the day that are best to avoid due to outside poor-air quality, or heavy traffic patterns near your dwelling. Use airtight containers for such products.
- Radon - It's a radioactive gas that you can't see, smell, or feel. According to the EPA, radon is the 2nd-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It comes from the soil and rock beneath your home and seeps into your basement. Suggestion: Test your home. Kits are available in most hardware stores.
- Spray paint and paint strippers - Follow directions on the product. Some may cause cancer, reproductive problems, or damage to the liver, kidney, or brain. (Source: Environmental Protection Agency [TEAM} Studies, School of Public Health.) Wear gloves, avoid getting the products on your skin and use the products outdoors if possible. Or, if possible, when using, open a window.
- Tobacco smoke, pot, and other drugs - Regardless of President Obama's (2014) intentions or speech, it is simply not good to puff in front of kids, anywhere, at any time, for several reasons: your pocketbook (moms) or wallet (dads), for one. Secondly, there is an increase of paying towards child doctor visits for allergies or asthma and decrease of pay from your job for school conferences: behavior or lack of attention all due to second-hand smoke (after a while a child becomes a secondhand smoke victim [nonsmokers] or under the influence; loss of memory and concentration, etc.) Need another reason, there are more than 4,000 chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke. Such exposure can cause cancer and heart and lung disease.(Source: 1992 study, The American Heart Associaton's Council on Cardiopulmonary and Critical Care, and a 2002 study, International Agency for Research on Cancer--an affiliate of the World Health Organization) Suggestion: Ask your smoking clients or guests to smoke outside or before entering your dwelling or vehicle. Do not choose a smoker for your child's day care needs if at all possible. And if you are a smoker, you know what you should or need to do. Otherwise, avoid smoking around your child or smoke outside at all times.