Is your home making you ill?

by ROSALIND RYAN, femail.co.uk

Your home could be filled with hundreds of harmful chemicals
We all like to think of our homes as a sanctuary from the stresses and pollution of the outside world.

But new research has discovered that a cocktail of 300 chemicals in our homes could be slowly poisoning us.

A recent report by the Consumers' Association found that some seemingly harmless items, such as air fresheners and cosmetics, contained harmful substances that could stay in the body for years.

Many of these chemicals are endocrine disrupters which means they have a negative effect on our hormones. Some have even been linked to breast cancer and an impaired immune system.

The watchdog is now calling for tougher regulations to protect the public. They say manufacturers should declare whether or not they are using any of the suspect chemicals in their products.

But households are not powerless against these potential lethal chemicals. By using natural alternatives to everyday products, you can cut your risk of exposure to the harmful substances and help protect the environment too.
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CLEANING FLUIDS

What do they contain?

Organic health writer Karen Sullivan says that 12 per cent of all calls to poison control centres are the result of household cleaning products. They contain chemicals that are poisonous, corrosive or flammable.

Most bleaches contain a chemical called sodium hypochlorite that gives off highly toxic fumes which can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and even damage the lungs.
Some scouring powders also contain ammonia which should never be mixed with bleach - it can release a deadly gas.

Even the innocuous looking washing-up liquid is a potential hazard. Many contain artificial fragrances and detergents that dry out the skin and can be toxic if swallowed.

Even washing-up liquid can contain harmful chemicals Why are they harmful?

Besides the cumulative effects these substances can have on our own bodies, bleach and ammonia pollute water once they enter the underground network, destroying beneficial bacteria that help break down sewage.

Washing-up liquids also contain water-polluting phosphates that can destroy fish and plant life once they are washed out into the sea.