Most products commonly used for Cleaning and maintenance of the houses, include substances that can be really dangerous, not only for children, but also for pets and anyone in general. For this reason, it is very important that in addition to having the products well closed and away from the reach of children, certain precautions are followed to avoid any risk.
In general, everyone knows the dangers of mixing toxic products like bleach and ammonia, for example. But beyond these typical products in many homes, there are substances unknown to most, which are hidden in containers, or in home furniture, among others. Therefore, it is important to know what are those substances that can be dangerousThis way you can avoid them as much as possible and protect family health.
These are potentially dangerous chemicals
Phthalates
The word phthalate comes from phthalic acid, although the term phthalic acid esters is also used. It is a group of chemicals, which are generally used for the production of plastic products. One of its most common uses is to convert hard plastics into flexible ones. For this reason, phthalates are used in countless household containers such as shampoo cans and any type of detergents, nail polishes, aerosols, in medicine containers and in most sex toys, among others.
How can you avoid phthalates in your home?
- Look at the labels on all the toys that you are going to buy, if they include the acronym DEHP, BBP or DBP, decline the toy and look for another.
- When heating food in the microwave, use glass containers instead of plastic packaging.
- Capsule Medications They may contain phthalates, take a good look at the package insert and if they include this substance, choose another brand.
The Mercury
This is one of the chemical substances that the World Health Organization recognizes as toxic to humans. In fact, already there is a fight to eliminate this substance globally, although unfortunately the necessary tools are not yet used in all societies. To eliminate mercury from your home, you can follow the following recommendations:
- If you still have an old thermometer, get rid of it and buy a digital one.
- Never store batteries that are already exhausted, it is important that you dispose of them by taking them to a specific battery collection point. Of course, you should never throw the batteries into the container since they are highly polluting and very harmful to the environment and health in general.
- Cosmetics may contain mercury, so you must make sure that your makeup is free of this substance.
- In the event that you need a filling in your teeth, make sure your dentist does not use mercury fillings. Although today most specialists usually use other materials for this procedure.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
The acronyms for these substances are PBDEs and they are brominated compounds. Bromine was formerly known as liquid fire and in its liquid state, it is highly dangerous for humans. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used for the manufacture of electronic elements, furniture, fabrics etc. Its main characteristic is that it is a fire retardant and therefore it is generally used in plastics and foams.
One of the main problems that complicates the task of eliminating this substance from the home is that it is freely found in the environment. Therefore, some of the measures you can adopt are:
- Clean your home frequently to remove dust, without forgetting those areas where access is more difficult since a large amount of dust tends to accumulate. In addition, it is advisable to avoid the use of aggressive cleaning products.
- Place a doormat at the entrance of your houseThis way you can eliminate the dangerous substances that may have been installed on the sole of the shoes.
- If you are going to buy new furniture, especially those that include padding, make sure that the label specifies that they are free of "flame retardants".