Formaldehyde offgasses (evaporates) from cushions, particleboard and the adhesives used to manufacture most inexpensive wood-based products. Carpets and carpet cushions may also offgas formaldehyde, causing eye and upper respiratory irritation. According to the EPA, formaldehyde may even cause cancer;

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, warns the Surgeon General. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can seep into homes through cracks in the basement, the surrounding foundation and in well water. It enters the body quietly through the airways;

Lead comes from vehicular and industrial exhaust and being heavier than air, falls to the ground, where we then walk it into our homes. Another simple tip is to clean things with baking soda, vinegar and water rather than harsh store-bought chemical cleaners

Lead is found in paint in older houses, old plumbing and soil near highways and busy roads. It causes neurological and kidney damage, high blood pressure, disrupted blood cell production and reproductive problems;

Carbon monoxide. Don't look for exhaust fumes in the attached garage; the biggest culprit is the unserviced furnace burning propane, butane or oil;

Arsenic is still lacing many household pesticides and is increasingly used as a wood preservative. Low levels of inorganic arsenic "may cause lung cancer risk," according to the CDC. The Department of Health and Human Services agrees, adding arsenic compounds to the list of unknown carcinogens;

Vinyl chloride is the source of "new car smell": The plastic interior of a new car offgasses this known carcinogen. Water sitting in PVC pipes overnight may also be steeping into a toxic tea. Very large exposures can lead to "vinyl chloride disease," which causes severe liver damage and ballooning of the fingertips;

Hydrofluoric acid "can cause intense pain and damage to tissues and bone if the recommended gloves happen to have holes in them," says Soloway. This highly corrosive substance is the active ingredient in many household rust removers.

But even the most liberal list of known toxins pales next to the order of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs comprise hundreds of natural and man-made, carbon-based agents. They react quickly with other carbon-based compounds, and evaporate easily, making them ideal solvents. VOCs can be found in disinfectants and pesticides, too.

Solvents: Benzene and methyl ethyl ketome traverse cell walls unchecked by normal cell defense. Both are known carcinogens. Cousins toluene, xylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and trichloroethylene make up the lion's share of the solvent market;

Disinfectants: Phenols, which include biphenyl, phenolics and the preservative pentachloraphenol, are found in disinfectants, antiseptics, perfumes, mouthwashes, glues and air fresheners;

Pesticides: Chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, though all banned for nearly two decades, continue to show up airborne in older houses.

Don't be a statistical figure on the CDC's tracking list: Be aware of what substances, from pesticides to cleaners, pose threats in your household. Maintain ingredient awareness. Many poisonings still occur because of product combinations, like the ammonia-chlorine bleach reaction, which produces the deadly respiratory irritant chloramine (a problem labeling practices have not addressed).

The top 12 cancer-causing products:

Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder
Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste
VO5 Hair Conditioner
Clairol Nice N Easy Hair Color
Ajax Cleanser
Lysol Disinfectant


There are some fast first steps to improving your air quality at home. The idea is to break down into simple steps and just do one thing at a time.

The first place to look for fast impact is under your kitchen sink. Products such as Mr.Clean, Fantastik, Pinesol, Javex, Spic and Span, Windex, floor waxes, furniture polishes, air fresheners, etc. all create a toxic chemical cloud around you when you clean. This cloud lingers and will significantly overload your already beleaguered immune system. Replace these products with safer items like Down East and Nature Clean brand cleaners which you can usually find at a health food store.

Next go to the bathroom and look at your body care products. For your scented soaps, shampoos, body creams, etc. substitute unscented, hypoallergenic products. Lines such as Almay and Marcelle can be found at most pharmacies.

Clinique also has many options, and most health food stores carry a variety of alternatives. Ask for help and others will share their finds. Remember, your skin absorbs everything that you put on it and the substance ultimately ends up in your blood stream!

In the laundry room use detergent from Down East or a brand like Tide Free which is fragrance and phosphate free. Eliminate scented fabric softeners and dryer sheets like Bounce. These products envelop you in a scented cloud all day and even while you are asleep at night. Better yet, since all fabric softeners contain strong chemicals, try using laundry disks in your washer to soften the water.

Poorly maintained, cracking, and flaking lead paint is the number one culprit in lead poisoning, and it's still in millions of homes. Though pregnant women and kids 6 and younger are at greatest risk, lead poisoning contributes to health problems in other adults, including high blood pressure and memory problems.

Lead paint that isn't cracking or chipping isn't usually a hazard. According to the EPA, lead paint that is in good condition can be left alone unless it's on a friction surface (a window or door frame) or it's within reach of children, such as a windowsill. But if your home predates 1978, and the paint is in disrepair or in an unsafe location, here's what to do.

Tuna may be a no-no for women who are or who may become pregnant, as well as for nursing moms and young children. An FDA advisory committee recently recommended that tuna join high-in-mercury shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish on the list of fish to avoid.
Pick varieties lower in mercury, dioxins, and PCBs, and watch serving sizes.
Dioxins and PCBs accumulate in animal fat, so choose leaner cuts of meat, such as sirloin, round steak, and pork tenderloin, and chicken breasts or drumsticks.

If your water is heavily chlorinated, it may also be contaminated with by-products of chlorination called trihalomethanes (THMs), including chloroform. Some studies suggest a link between THMs and cancer and, possibly, to other health problems. Arsenic is another water contaminant linked to cancer. Here's how to stay safe.

Most commercial polishes, for example, contain poisonous solvents that emit vapors. These products are often composed of the same toxic chemicals that industrial dumpers have used to pollute our land, air and water. The simple household pesticide you use to eliminate bugs in your garden is the same deadly poison which has given farm workers high rates of cancer. These persistent organic compounds are among the most deadly substances known.

Aerosols, artificial sweeteners, cosmetics, dyes, inks, paints, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, synthetic fabrics our homes are overflowing with chemicals.

What can be done to reduce exposures to chemicals in the home and at work?

Replace toxic agents with non-toxic alternatives. Above all, educate your household to reduce risk and exposure.

Store chemicals that give off vapors in a place where they will not be able to contaminate the air in your home. Such products as paint, varnish, adhesives, pesticides and cleaners would come into this category.

Have good ventilation in all rooms, including your bathroom.

Wipe your feet before you come inside. This can reduce the amount of lead in your carpet dramatically. Even better is to remove your shoes before going indoors. Additionally, you should have a good vacuum cleaner and use it often.

Remove all flaking leaded paint from surfaces in and around your home. If your plumbing contains lead, always run the cold water tap for a few moments before use.

When cleaning your home, keep in mind that you don't have to replace grease and dirt with dozens of chemicals dangerous to your family and the overall environment. Most of your household cleaning needs can be met with six simple ingredients: vinegar, soap, baking soda, washing soda, borax, and ammonia. Various combinations of these simple substances can accomplish most household cleaning jobs cheaply and safely.

Keep all toys away from a pesticide treated area for at least two weeks. It has been found that the plastics used in toy manufacture absorb toxins very rapidly. These can be transferred to children through the skin and mouth.

Consumers can purchase less of the offending products (moth balls, for example);
citizen pressure can force manufacturers to reduce their use of hazardous chemicals;
citizen pressure can force government agencies to adopt standards for building materials (for example, particle board is today loaded with formaldehyde, a carcinogen);
and ventilate the place better.


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