Housing...Inside and Out

February 26, 1999
Safely Choose And Use Household Products

The unsafe use of many common household products can cause many undesirable health effects. To protect you and your family, you should carefully choose and use such products with caution.

Some of the products that you should be aware of are solvents, paints, paint strippers, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, moth repellents, air fresheners, stored fuels, automotive products, hobby supplies, pesticides and some cleaners and disinfectants. You should pay particular attention to products that contain volatile organic compounds that easily evaporate into the air. Some may be flammable. The following are some of the compounds listed on product labels: petroleum distillates, mineral spirits, chlorinated solvents, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, trichloroethane, toluene and formaldehyde. Other household product ingredients can also be a hazard if they are used improperly.

The short-term effects include eye, nose and throat irritation, and headaches. Long-term exposure can cause loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to liver, kidneys and the centrla nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals and are suspected of causing cancer in humans.

Some ways to minimize potential health problems include reading the labels of products you are considering buying, note the product's ingredients and beware of any warning of its use. Always use household products only for their intended purpose and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use the product in a well-ventilated area. Choose products that are packaged to reduce the chance of spills, leaks and child tampering. Also keep household products in their original containers so that safety information anc directions for use are always with the product.

You can also reduce your need for these products by practicing preventive maintenance. Quickly attend to spills and stains. Remove food wastes promptly. Also control excess moisture (such as standing water from air conditioner drains or refrigerator drip pans) and fix leaks, drips and seepage problems promptly.


Written by Dr. Francis Graham (Retired)

A black line that separates the body text from footer information