25 Toxic Products that you probably Use Every day
Many people are eating healthy and working on their lifestyle with meditation, exercise, and development of other healthy habits but many are unaware they are exposing themselves daily to environmental toxins that can have serious consequences to their health. Although diet and physical exercise are essential, limiting your exposure to toxic chemicals every-day is also crucially important.
This is easier said than done as most of the exposure to toxins comes in the form of your interaction with seemingly harmless everyday products like cookware and food storage containers, perfumes, household cleaners, and much more.
Scientists today have confirmed that chemicals that are found in an array of household and personal grooming products are more dangerous than previously thought.
Educating yourself to become aware of these sources of toxins can help protect you and your family from chronic disease, mental health and neurodegenerative disorders, and even life-threatening illnesses in the long run.
Let’s take a look at some of the worst toxic products that you are probably using every day.
Perfumes
A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency has found that most fragrances that are commercially available in the market are sources of chemicals that can be potentially lethal. An array of toxic chemicals like benzaldehyde, linalool, acetone, benzyl acetate, camphor, methylene chloride, etc. can all be found in bottles of perfumes.
Ironically, these chemicals if inhaled can cause dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, irritation to eyes, skin, and lungs, kidney damage, and headaches.
Mattresses
The mattresses that are responsible for you getting the sleep you deserve can also be sources of potentially harmful compounds like PBDE’s. Prolonged exposure to PBDEs can cause brain and reproductive damage, decreased sperm quality, and thyroid problems. Today, PBDE is banned in Canada, and several states of the U.S. However, if your mattresses have even a remote chance of harboring these deadly toxins, then it would be wise to buy a new mattress which is free from PBDE.
Branded Skin Creams
Most commercially available, heavily marketed skin creams and serums can have the opposite effect on your skin than what is originally promised to you in their ostentatious promotional campaigns. Many of these anti-aging creams and moisturizing lotions find their way into the market without even being tested properly for safety.
A box of branded skincare products can be home to a number of potentially dangerous chemicals. Many skincare products are responsible for exposing your skin to up to 3000 different kinds of chemicals, these branded skin products can do more harm to your skin, nervous system, and immune system.
Organic Posers
Now let’s focus on some deceiving products out there that want you to believe that they are completely organic, however, are anything but what they claim to be. We should be extra careful when coming across such products that are deceptively marketed as organically produced products.
The U.S. Food and drug administration doesn’t really define or regulate the term “organic” on personal, body care, or skincare products. Many companies try to trick their customers into buying their products by simply slapping the ‘organic’ tag on their package. However, if you look closely at the ingredients, you can often find negligible amounts of organic ingredients mixed in with plenty of harmful chemicals.
To avoid being duped by such nefarious practices, always try to buy products that have the USDA certified organic label or an equivalent tag attached to it. Anything else should be treated with skepticism.
To make your purchase easier, here are 5 Ingredients to avoid when reading labels. These ingredients make the product extremely toxic.
- Parabens
- Hydroquinone
- Octinoxate
- Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Makeup
Here’s a horrifying fun fact. Did you know that makeup and other personal care products can be home to almost 10,500 different chemicals? It doesn’t come as a surprise then that makeup products are at the center of some of the most dastardly effects on the human skin and body. The toxic ingredients often found in makeup and personal care products can cause cancer, disrupt your hormones, harm human development, and also cause serious issues if you are pregnant. As with all products, only buy those that have a USDA certified organic label on it.
Shaving Gel
Polytetrafluoroethylene, aka PTFE, is popularly used in the making of shaving gels because of the smooth, slippery feel it lends to the product. However, this chemical has been linked to serious health issues like cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, and birth defects. Hence, try to avoid this toxin as much as you can.
Be extra cautious as PTFE also goes by the synonym PFAS’s, aka perfluoroalkyl. For simple and safe shaving cream, try to use coconut oil. You will be surprised by how great it works.
Chemical Sunscreens
Most sunscreens that are marketed as being your shield against the sun can wreak havoc on your skin due to its heavy chemical composition. Chemicals found in sunscreens like Octinoxate, oxybenzone, and other chemical filters of ultra-violet light can disrupt your hormones while spreading the chemical throughout your body.
There is absolutely no need to use such chemical-heavy products when there are mineral-based sunscreens that use zinc oxide readily available in the market. While buying mineral-based sunscreens, make sure you buy only the non-nanoparticle versions of the product, as they can cause serious DNA damage, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Deodorant and Antiperspirant
Deodorant and Antiperspirants are often prominent sources of chemicals such as PEG’s, paraben, nanoparticles, and triclosan – an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to reproductive and developmental harm
Antiperspirants have also been found to contain aluminum, which can generate genomic instability in breast cells, ultimately leading to oxidative damage and inflammation. Just like all the other products, only buy deodorants and antiperspirants that are free of chemicals and labeled with the USDA organic tag.
Antibacterial Soap
Antibacterial soaps often come with harmful triclosan or other chemicals that can cause severe health problems in the long run. As more and more information surfaces on the importance of our body’s microbiome, more efforts should be taken to preserve its levels in our body. Choose soaps that are USDA certified Organic.
Clothing
The textile industry today has been termed as the biggest cause of air and water pollution in the world. If you are into fast fashion then it is important for you to know that this cheap purchase and disposal of clothes is proving to be a heavy burden on our planet.
It is estimated that at least 43 tons of chemicals are used in the production of clothes every year by the textile industry. After polluting the air we breathe and the water we drink, some of these chemicals still linger on to the clothes you buy.
Here are some examples of the chemicals that you might find on your clothing.
- Flame retardants
- Formaldehyde
- Heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury
- Azo dyes
- Polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC’s)
Always opt for quality over quantity when buying clothes. Look for organic, chemical-free brands, and try to use your clothes until you wear them out.
Water
Every time you shower in chlorinated water, DBP’s aka disinfection byproducts, enter the air and can easily enter your system when you breathe. DBPs are formed from an interaction between chlorine and bromine and organic materials in the water, and they are known to cause health issues like liver damage, decreased nervous system activity, and possibly cancer.
DBP’s can enter your body either by you breathing the steam in or by drinking water during the shower. If ingested, DBP’s can harm your fertility by affecting the quality of your semen.
Shampoo
The worst of the worst chemicals can be found in shampoos that are sold in the market today. This includes ethanolamines, like 21 DEA (diethanolamine), an emulsifying agent that may cause cancer, liver and kidney damage, neurotoxic effects (tremors), and problems with brain development and memory.
Parabens, chemical sunscreens (oxybenzone and octinoxate), and formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, including DMDM hydantoin, bronopol, Diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea are also very commonly used ingredients in shampoos.
These chemicals can increase the risk of your body developing cancer. Try to buy shampoos that are USDA certified organic only.
Cleaning Products
It is no secret that most cleaning products that are used to keep houses neat and tidy are saddled with harmful chemicals. Despite knowing this, most people continue to use these products thinking there are no alternatives available to them. That is false!
There are many great and effective alternatives to conventional cleaning products. With the growing availability of safe alternative household cleaners, you can rest easy knowing that at least you are not covering your house with toxic chemicals.
Air Fresheners
Air fresheners are often used to give your home a desirable aromatic fragrance. However, if these air fresheners are used for a prolonged time in an unventilated area they can release harmful pollutants. Whenever using air fresheners, ensure that your house is properly ventilated so as not to release harmful toxins like ethylene-based glycol ethers and paradichlorobenzene, which can adversely impact the health of your family. It is best to avoid chemically based air fresheners and instead opt for safer alternatives like essential oils.
Studies have found that chemically-based scented products can emit an average of 17 VOCs, including benzene and toluene, which are all linked to cancer. Instead, try using essential oils in a diffuser to make your house smell good while avoiding the release of toxins that come from conventional air fresheners.
Pillows
Your pillows can release gases and VOCs that are extremely harmful and cause cancer, headaches, damage to your liver, kidney, and lungs. Skin contact with the toxic surface of a pillow can lead to severe dermatitis and eczema. If you are struggling with skin issues you might take into consideration that it could be your bedding.
When buying pillows, buy those that are made of natural wool, organic cotton, natural latex foam, or plant-based fillings. Avoid buying pillows that are manufactured with synthetic petroleum-based foam.
Flea and Tick Products
Flea and tick products are naturally toxic substances. When you apply them to your pets, the chemicals migrate from the pets and settle on household items that you use daily. This can cause serious health issues in the long run, especially for children who are more susceptible to such toxic substances.
One such chemical, tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), which is found in these products, is known to be a nerve poison that can cause great damage to our nervous system. Other chemicals found in fleas and tick products, such as those containing pyrethrins, are possible carcinogens that can cause asthma and allergies as well.
The best way to protect your pets is by giving them regular baths, cleaning their bedding regularly, and inspecting for ticks after taking them for a walk.
Furniture
A home furniture is often the worst offenders when it comes to harboring toxic chemicals. Upholstery, in particular, may contain polyurethane foam that contains flame retardants, with older relics (dating back to the mid-2000s and before) potential sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs),34 which can cause issues like thyroid problems, infertility and negative impacts on neurodevelopment.
When purchasing upholstery, opt for the TB117-2013 label, which reads, “The upholstery materials in this product contain NO added flame retardant chemicals.”
On the other hand, Composite wood products, which include particleboard, fiberboard, and plywood, are also harmful as they can release cancer-causing formaldehyde into the air. These products are made from chips or particles of wood that are bonded using a resin, which may release formaldehyde. Try to choose furniture which is made of solid wood instead.
Carpet
Carpets are arguably one of the most toxic products in your house. They act as fertile grounds for most dust and toxin particles to rest and settle. A dirty carpet can result in the release of many harmful VOC’s in the air. To maintain a clean carpet, try to vacuum it often with a vacuum that uses a HEPA filter. For a much more practical option, you can try to install a healthier flooring of tile and wood instead.
If you have to opt for buying a carpet, then look for ones with the tag – Green Label Plus or Greenguard Certified
Non-stick cookware
Non-stick pans are the number one choice of many households due to their convenient cleaning benefit. However, the chemicals used to make this non-stick cookware, known as PFC’s, are proven to be toxic.
While some PFC’s have been phased out today, its replacements don’t fare better either in terms of safety. The problems this chemical can cause include liver toxicity, thyroid problems, hormone disruption, high cholesterol, obesity, and more.
An easy fix to this problem is swapping this cookware for healthier alternatives. Cookware made of cast iron, ceramic coating, or stainless steel is all much better cookware options than the PFC heavy cookware that is popular in the market today.
Nylon Cooking Utensils
The spoons and spatulas which are made from black nylon may contain primary aromatic amines (PAAs), including 4,4’-methylenedianiline (4,4’-MDA), a chemical which has long been associated with cancer.
Most of these utensils are not even heatproof, meaning they can melt off when coming into contact with hot surfaces. Some of the peeled off substances can find its way into your food.
Opt for wooden or stainless steel cooking options instead, which much safer and easier to maintain.
Mothballs
If you have mothballs in your home, we suggest you get rid of them immediately. They are nefarious concoctions that are almost 100% naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, all of which can cause serious health issues like headaches, nausea, coughing, hemolytic anemia, and eye and nose irritation in the short term and cancer, liver and kidney damage at worst.
Mothballs were very popular for a long time, and there is a good enough reason why you don’t see them much these days. If you are someone who is still using them, then do yourself a favor and throw them away and opt for cedar wood instead.
Electronic
No one wants to hear this one, but most of the electronic items that you cannot live without, such as cell phones, computers, speakers, printers, etc. contain chemicals like flame retardants, which are extremely detrimental to your overall health. Always clean up your electronic items using a damp cloth. It is also wise to keep your electronic devices away from food products in your house.
Dust
The dust you see hovering in a beam of sunlight, or peacefully settled on your furniture, is the tangible conglomeration of everything you don’t want in your house. It contains dead skin cells, fallen hair strands, bacteria, and many other toxic chemicals that eventually will find a way into your body. In fact, one study found at least 271 chemicals in 38 dust particles.
It is crucial to keep clean and broom your house regularly to ensure it remains dust-free. Use a vacuum with HEPA filter, clean your floor with a wet mop, use high-quality air filters to curb the level of toxicity in your house.
Excess Blue Light
Operating your cell phones at night can interfere with your body’s natural circadian rhythm, thus causing insomnia. Apart from that, it can also result in other serious health conditions, which include depression.
Try to spend less time staring at your computer screens and LED monitors at night. Shutting off all of your electronic devices three to four hours before bed can be a perfect remedy for getting a good night’s sleep.
Noise Pollution
Yes, noise pollution is a real issue and an epidemic plaguing the entire globe today. We have all experienced the irritation that comes when your ears are exposed to the loud noise coming from a blaring horn, or the deafening roar of a busy highway. Believe it or not, noise can be a cause of serious concern apart from causing simple annoyance. It has been linked to several modern health problems like depression, sleep disruption, stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Try to give your mind the peace it deserves by using the following methods
- Use noise-canceling headphones
- Wear ear protection when using lawnmowers or other noise intensive equipment.
- Use double paneled windows to drown out the noise in a loud neighborhood
- Plant trees
- Install acoustic wall panels
Alternatives we love!
Now that you are aware of all the potentially harmful toxins that may be causing you to harm every day, it’s time to take action. Throw away all the artificial cosmetic and beauty products that do more harm than good. Use natural organic USDA certified organic products instead.
Throw away or stop using unsafe cookware, cleaners, candles, and air fresheners, and opt for the proven far safer choices there, as well. Reorganize electronics, so they’re located as far away from where you spend most of your time.
Some of our favorite online spots to purchase alternatives are…
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