Environmental hazards around the house
Published 4:00 am, Friday, October 17, 2008
We like to think of our homes as havens, but how safe are they?
The expression, "A man's home is his castle" might need updating to "carcinogenic castle" if we stop to consider indoor air pollution.
Everything from the furniture we buy, to the fragranced products we use, to the dry-cleaned clothes, to the soil our homes are built upon may contain toxic and cancer-causing pollutants.
If you find yourself coughing from the fumes produced by your mold and mildew cleaner, it's no surprise. Household cleaners contain so many toxic ingredients you'd think you were waging chemical warfare instead of wiping down the shower.
Even the appliances we use can pose a danger to our health. Dryers, water heaters and stoves all emit combustible gases.
In fact, the air we breathe inside our homes is so problematic the Environmental Protection Agency ranks indoor air pollution fourth in cancer risk among the top 13 environmental problems analyzed.
Here are some examples of the potential risks we have at home and some alternatives to help keep your haven safe.
Radon, another source of indoor pollution, is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that results from the breakdown of uranium.
Uranium is naturally present in rock and soil and is typically concentrated where large deposits of granite, shale, phosphate and pitchblende exist.
Because it's a gas, radon can leak into the home through a basement or crawl space via adjacent soil, rock or well water.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer according to the EPA, but the only way to determine if it's present in your home is to test for it.
Test kits are available through the National Safety Council and at some retail outlets, or you can hire a qualified professional. The EPA Web site provides tips for reliable home testing.
Formaldehyde, a chemical used as a preservative and adhesive in furniture and building materials, is a dangerous volatile organic compound. Not only is formaldehyde a harsh irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, prolonged exposure can result in asthma attacks and cause damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.
Formaldehyde can be found in composite wood products (such as plywood and particleboard), stripping and finishing products, wallpaper, carpeting and furniture.
Reduce exposure by not purchasing uncoated pressed wood products and using solid wood, gypsum board, stainless steel, bricks and tile instead.
Make sure new carpets and furniture are sufficiently aired out before bringing them indoors.
Formaldehyde fumes decrease over time, so buying secondhand is another option.
Volatile organic compounds
When you clean your bathroom, toss a dryer sheet in the dryer or use an air freshener, you're exposing yourself to other volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
The EPA identifies VOCs as a major indoor air contaminant and warns they could cause headaches, nausea, cancer and damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system.
The list of products containing VOCs includes aerosol sprays, cleaning products, building materials, paints, pesticides, disinfectants, degreasers, cosmetics, hobby products and office equipment (such as copiers).
Fragrance products - including plug-in and spray air fresheners, detergents, dryer sheets and fabric softeners - are major sources of hazardous VOCs, according to Anne Steinemann, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and public affairs at the University of Washington.
Her studies show that common fragranced products can be toxic or carcinogenic, including products that claim to be "green," "organic," "natural," or "nontoxic."
But don't bother checking labels to discover whether a scented product is harmful to your health. Companies are not required to disclose ingredients.
Daily exposure to VOCs is almost unavoidable. One alternative? Make your own cleaning products. Distilled white vinegar, baking soda, cornstarch, lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide are effective cleaners. A solution of one part white vinegar and one part water will clean floors, windows and remove mildew.
Don't mask odors with a chemical air freshener; locate the underlying problem. Or open a window, turn on a fan or set an opened box of baking soda on the counter.
To soften clothes and reduce static cling, add 1/4 to 1 cup of white vinegar to either the wash or rinse cycle of your laundry. But don't mix vinegar with a chemical such as chlorine bleach. Sprinkle a few drops of an essential oil on a dampened washcloth and toss in the dryer to add fragrance.
Combustible indoor pollutants are gases and particles produced by tobacco smoke and the burning of fuels such as natural gas, propane, wood and oil.
Furnaces, stoves, water heaters, fireplaces and clothes dryers all release combustible gases, which can be fatal or cause respiratory damage if not vented properly or if equipment is not in good working condition.
Reduce the risk of harm by making sure equipment is installed correctly and well maintained. The EPA recommends annual inspections by a professional.
One pollutant you may be bringing into your home is perchloroethylene, a liquid chemical used to dry-clean fabrics.
The EPA, says breathing "perc" can adversely affect the central nervous system and lead to liver and kidney damage.
The California Air Resources Board banned perc in 2007; however, its removal from statewide dry-cleaning sites won't be complete until 2023.
The air board recommends finding a dry cleaner that uses water-based and carbon dioxide cleaning systems.
Ready to step outside for a breath of fresh air?
You won't find it if you're using lawn and garden equipment powered by two-stroke engines, which are heavy polluters according to the EPA.
The emissions from lawn mowers, weed trimmers, leaf blowers and chain saws all contribute to ground-level ozone, one of the main ingredients in smog. Ozone is harmful to human respiratory systems and damages vegetation and ecosystems.
Regulations to bring low-polluting four-stroke engines to market are in development, but for now, the EPA recommends using electric equipment or manual tools.
Pull out a broom and a rake, and we'll all breathe a little easier.
For general information on indoor air pollutants visit www.epa.gov. The site also has specific links for VOCs and radon.
The National Safety Council provides additional information and information on radon testing kits at links.sfgate.com/ZEZG.
How to make homemade cleaning products: