7 toxic items you might have in your home

1. Air freshener

What can be dangerous

Air fresheners help to get rid of unpleasant odors in the apartment. We often spray them in bathrooms and toilets - rooms that are not ventilated. This is not very correct. Phthalates are a part of air fresheners - a chemical additive for the fragrance stability and plasticity of the material.

Phthalates are also found in nail polish, beauty products, children's toys, and plastics. Often they are not openly indicated, but are hidden behind the word "flavoring". Thus, harmful substances were found in 12 out of 14 air fresheners, in the composition of which phthalates were not noted.

Phthalates affect the level of hormones in the body: in men, they cause a decrease in testosterone and are the cause of a malfunction of the reproductive system.

When you spray the air freshener in an enclosed space, particles of the product deposit on the skin or get inside with the inhaled air. And together with them, harmful substances enter the body.

What to do

Coming to terms with unpleasant odors is not the best solution. Try making your own natural air freshener.

For 100 ml of air freshener you need:

15–20 drops of essential oil, the smell of which you like (you can mix several);
1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol
spray bottle;
distilled water.

Add oils and rubbing alcohol to the bottle and mix gently in a circular motion. Fill with water, screw on the spray nozzle tightly and shake gently. Ready!

2. Balls from moths

What can be dangerous

To prevent the moth from eating clothes, special balls are placed in the closet. The active substance in them is naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene - substances that are destructive not only for the annoying insect, but also for humans.

Exposure to naphthalene, a recognized carcinogen, or paradichlorobenzene, can cause headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and skin irritation. Balloons are also dangerous because small children can mistake them for candy and taste them.

What to do

Pack clothes that you don't plan to leave the closet in the coming months in an airtight bag. Be sure to clean it before storing it.

Clean the closet regularly: vacuum every nook and cranny, remove dust, hair and dirt.

3. Chipboard furniture

What can be dangerous

Cheap furniture made of low-quality materials may contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen that is dangerous to human health. People who are particularly sensitive to the substance may experience burning sensation in the eyes, nose or throat, coughing, nausea, and skin irritation.

What to do

Find out the quality standards of the country of origin and carefully study the certificates. Pay attention to the appearance and smell: The acrid, burning nose of a new sofa or table is a signal that cannot be ignored.

4. Cashier's checks

What can be dangerous

Most of the receipts that we collect from the store after each purchase or from the ATM after a successful transaction are printed on thermal paper. And it contains bisphenol A (BPA).

Bisphenol A is a chemical that negatively affects the endocrine system, thyroid gland, and the reproductive system.

It can enter the body upon contact with the skin, and when you pick up a check, it is inevitable.

Although today many countries have put the substance on the banned list, and manufacturers agree with environmentalists and try to minimize its use, bisphenol A can still be found in plastic bottles and dishes.

What to do

Avoid paper checks and do not pile them up at home to calculate how much you spent on groceries in a month. Today, almost all transactions can be tracked through a smartphone.

Download the store's app and keep track of your purchases online. Install your bank's mobile application to always be aware of the remaining balance.

If you are afraid that the seller will cheat you for 15 rubles, watch the price on the electronic screen while he breaks through the purchases. If you see that the amount is more than it was on the price tag, tell him about it. It will be easier than looking for a discrepancy in the check after the purchase has been paid.

5. Batteries

What can be dangerous

Good quality new batteries and accumulators, if used correctly, will not harm you. It's about the long term. Lead and cadmium contained in batteries or accumulators negatively affect the kidneys, liver and nervous system of a person. Among other things, cadmium is recognized as a carcinogen.

A battery that has been stuck in the back corner of a cabinet since time immemorial can corrode. Her body will collapse, and toxic substances will be released.

What to do

Dispose of used batteries and accumulators as soon as they fail. Don't store them in gadgets that you haven't used for years. Conduct an audit and take the non-working batteries to the nearest collection point.

6. Sunscreens

What can be dangerous

Not all, but those that contain oxybenzone. Scientists have found that the substance accumulates in the body and negatively affects the endocrine system.

In addition, when it gets into the water along with the protective cream on our skin, oxybenzone kills corals by destroying DNA molecules as well as deforming them in the larval stage. In the highest concentrations, the substance was found precisely in places popular with tourists.

What to do

Read the ingredients and choose sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients.

7. Plastic dishes

What can be dangerous

Phthalates and bisphenol A, which are already familiar to us, may be included in plastic dishes. Hazardous substances can enter the body along with the products that are stored in such a container. Manufacturers are getting rid of bisphenol A in plastic and replacing it with other components, but scientists are concerned that they are just as harmful.

What to do

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding plastic utensils or packaging labeled 03, 06, and 07.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Polystyrene

A mixture of different plastics, polymers

Partially it can be replaced with glass or metal. For example, food containers, cutting boards, kitchen spatulas.

Unfortunately, we are surrounded by too many toxic and harmful objects, the effect of which is not noticeable now, but can negatively affect our health in the foreseeable future. You don't need to become paranoid, because everything is in our hands. And if you can protect yourself from at least some dangerous substances, then it is better to do this.