Chemicals in the home and your health
Chemicals are with us everywhere. Chemical exposure in the home and other indoor environments is inevitable in modern life, it’s almost impossible to avoid. You’ll find harmful and hazardous chemicals in the building materials all around us and in the household products we use each day. The exposure to these chemicals can have a significant affect on your health.
When you research this subject it can be overwhelming. The information on what to avoid can feel never ending. If you are inspired to make changes in your home and reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals just take one step at a time. This is a journey we take not a destination we arrive at.
On this page you’ll find 15 tips on how to reduce the chemical load in your home. We invite you to pick one or two you can action today and start creating a healthier home for you and your family.
What common chemicals are in the home?
- Personal care products (eg. makeup, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorants, sunscreens)
- Non-organic produce including fruits, vegetables and other crops.
- Cleaning products (eg. laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, bleach/sodium hypochlorite)
- Air fresheners
- Building materials (eg. glues, sealants/coatings, particle board, flame retardants, polyvinyl wallpaper, floor coverings, lacquers)
- Scotchgard applications (eg. carpets, mattresses, upholstery, waterproof clothing, microwaveable food items)
- Paints and varnishes
- Pesticides and insecticides (eg. weed killers, cockroach baits, flea collars and shampoos, fly sprays)
- Plastics (eg. food containers, baby bottles)
- Non-stick cookware
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Fake tan products
- Coolants and lubricants
- Food packaging
- Liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
The Naughty List (hazardous ingredients in cleaning and personal care products)
Check out Naturopath Recommended’s ‘Naughty 9’ list. It’s a list of hazardous chemical ingredients commonly found in cleaning and personal care products that you’ll probably want to steer clear of. And there’s an extended list called, “The Nasty 90+”. Click here to visit “The Naughty 9” list.
How to reduce the chemical load in your home?
1. Use safe cleaning products.
Only use cleaning products that are non-hazardous at the ingredient level with no fragrance or colour dyes. Learn more at about our Compounding Laboratory here.
2. Buy or grow your own organic fruit and vegetables.
3. Wash your hands.
Good hand hygiene is a good idea.
4. Use a high quality water filter.
This will help to reduce chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals and other potential pollutants in your drinking water.
5. Use low-VOC paints.
6. Use safe personal care products like shampoos, soaps, sunscreens and lotions
Only choose personal care products that are non-hazardous at the ingredient level. That means every ingredient in it’s concentrated form is non-hazardous. It’s a very high standard that few manufacturers can do which is why our compounding laboratory is so popular. Also choosing products with fewer ingredients is a good idea… analysing them is easier and and there’s less funny stuff happening in the formulation to distract from the hazardous ingredients.
7. Use natural and organic cosmetic brands.
Look past the marketing at the ingredients list and do your research.
8. Go fragrance-free.
Avoid air fresheners and scented products at home. Even essential oil fragranced products come with risk. And be aware that many essential oil fragranced products also have synthetic fragrances added. Just because it says “essential oil fragranced” doesn’t mean it’s only essential oil fragranced.
9. Avoid cigarette smoke.
cough… cough!
10. Reduce plastic use especially in the kitchen.
It’s much better to use glass or stainless steel containers for food storage. Plastic bottles, containers and wraps can leach harmful chemicals into food, especially when they’re heated up. Minimising the use of plastic products is highly recommended and there are reusable and environmentally friendly alternatives out there.
What types of plastic should I avoid?
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
– Commonly used for… Most common plastic for making disposable bottles for water, soft drinks, salad dressing and cleaning products. Also used to make rope, medicine jars, carpet fibre, food trays, storage containers, furniture, other plastic bottles and synthetic fibres for clothing (the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family).
– This plastic is not designed for reuse as it rapidly degrades with heat exposure or when washed.
– Not recommended to store food or liquids.
– Recyclable? Commonly recycled (It’s is the most recyclable of all the plastics)
– Time to decompose: 5-10 years (under ideal conditions)
– Toxicity: Highly toxic
– Most commonly leached toxins: Antimony Oxide, Bromine, Diaszomethane, Lead Oxide, Nickel Ethylene Oxide and Benzene. - Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
– Commonly used for… Found in many food packaging items like cling wrap, juice bottles and food storage containers. Also used in water and plumbing pipes, credit cards, carpet backing, inflatable products, signage, floor coverings, electrical cable insulation, teething rings, garden hoses, traffic cones, synthetic leather goods and some toys.
– It’s also used in water pipes, credit cards, inflatable products, signage, electrical cable insulation and some toys.
– The 3rd most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic (after polyethylene and polypropylene)
– Banned for use in toys and cosmetics in the European Union.
– Recyclable? Sometimes recycled. Most products using PVC need to be made from virgin material for their construction. Less than 1% of PVC material is recycled.
– Time to decompose: Never
– Toxicity: Highly toxic (One of the most toxic of all the plastics due to the the plasticizers used)
– Most commonly leached toxins: Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, Phthalates, Ethylene Oxide, Lead Chromate, Methyl Acrylate, Methanol, Phthalic Anhydride, Tetrahydrofuran and Tribasic Lead Sulphate, Mercury, Cadmium, Bisphenol A (BPA). - Polystyrene (PS)
– Commonly used for… Disposable foam cups, takeaway food containers and trays, plastic cutlery, egg cartons, yogurt and margarine containers, foam protective packaging, underlay sheeting for laminate flooring, rigid foam insulation and home decor products
– There are serious concerns associated with the possible leeching of contaminants from Polystyrene into food and drinks.
– Recyclable? Commonly recycled (difficult process)
– Time to decompose: 50 years (under ideal conditions)
– Toxicity: Highly toxic
– Most commonly leached toxins: Styrene, Ethylbenzene, Benzene, Ethylene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Antimony Oxide, and Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide, Bensoquinone - Other types of plastics including BPA, Polycarbonate (PC), Acrylic, Nylon and Acrylonitrile Styrene.
– This category does include safe and unsafe plastics.
– Polycarbonate (PC) is a hard, clear (or clear-tinted) and unbreakable plastic. It can often contain BPA (bisphenol A).
– Commonly used for… Baby bottles, Sippy cups, Reusable water bottles, Large multi-litre water bottles, Medical storage containers, Eyeglasses, Exterior lighting fixtures, Metal food can linings, CDs and DVDs, Dental sealants
– If a bottle says it’s unbreakable or microwave-safe it probably contains BPA. And even aluminium bottles can be lined with BPA.
– Recyclable? Difficult to recycle
– Time to decompose: For the majority of these plastics, never.
– Toxicity: Highly toxic
– Most commonly leached toxins: BPA (bisphenol A), BPS as well as all other toxins mentioned above.
What types of plastics are better to use
Some plastics are worse than others but remember that all plastics do leech chemicals.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
– More stable than most types of plastics. Does not leach endocrine disrupting chemicals.
– Commonly used for… milk cartons, motor oil containers, shampoos and conditioner bottles, soap bottles, toys, buckets, non-carbonated drink bottles, crates, plant pots and garden furniture, bins and compost containers, fencing and rope.
– Recyclable? Commonly recycled (one of the most recycled plastics)
– Time to decompose: 100 years (under ideal conditions)
– Toxicity: Low
– Most commonly leached toxins: Chromium Oxide, Benzoyl Peroxide, Hexane and Cyclohexane. - Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
– Soft, flexible plastic that is not easily recycled and an environmental concern.
– Commonly used for… garbage bags, grocery bags, cling wraps and plastic films, squeezable bottles like honey and sauces, flexible container lids, bubble wrap, hot and cold beverage cups, rubbish bins, floor tiles and some sports water bottles.
– Recyclable? Sometimes recycled
– Time to decompose: 500-1000 years (under ideal conditions)
– Toxicity: Low
– Most commonly leached toxins: Benzene, Chromium Oxide, Cumene Hydroperoxide and Tert-butyl Hydroperoxide. - Polypropylene (PP)
– Similar to polyethylene but a little harder and more heat-resistant. It’s a tough material with high chemical resistance.
– Commonly used for… rigid containers (eg. ice-cream and yoghurt containers), old plastic drinking straws (so much better than the paper options), syrup bottles, nappies, butter tubs, disposable take-away containers, disposable cups and plates, cutting boards, some water pipes, potato chip bags, carpet fibres, packaging tape, shipping pallets, automotive battery cases, brooms, watering cans, most bottle tops and some drinking water bottles.
– Thought to be free from any known hazards.
– Recyclable? Occasionally recycled but not often.
– Time to decompose: 20-30 years (under ideal conditions)
– Toxicity: Low
– Most commonly leached toxins: Methanol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl phenol and Nickel Dibutyl Dithiocarbamate
Regardless of the type of plastic, it is never recommended to heat or freeze food or liquids in plastic containers or with plastic wraps. And any plastic container that is old, worn, scratched or damaged does pose a higher risk if leaching chemicals.
11. Ventilate your home
Opening windows, using exhaust fans, installing a mechanical ventilation system, decluttering and maintaining a well-ventilated living space all improve ventilation and indoor air quality while flushing out indoor air pollutants.
12. Shoes off at the front door
Reduce the amount of nasties tracked through your home with a ‘shoes off at the front door’ policy. Install effective entrance matting too.
13. Limit pesticide use and use natural pest control methods
Use natural methods for pest control if possible. Try to avoid using chemical pesticides inside your home. Sealing cracks and openings, keeping food stored in airtight containers and maintaining a clean living space is also helpful for reducing pests in the home.
14. Low-tox laundry
Laundries are often filled with nasty chemicals like bleaches, soakers, stain removers, detergents and fragrances. The chemicals leave residues on the cloths you clean that can be irritating to your skin and unhealthy for your body. Switch to a liquid laundry detergent that is non-hazardous at the ingredient level and contains no fragrance or colour dyes. Naturopath Recommended’s compounding laboratory can help you with a customised solution.
15. Choose low-tox furniture, carpet and hard floors
Choose options that are made from natural materials. Look for VOC-free, low-VOC and formaldehyde-free options. This helps to minimise the exposure you have to the off-gassing of harmful chemicals. Be aware that some natural hard floor surfaces like hardwood, bamboo and natural stone may have coatings or treatments applied to them that may contain harmful chemicals.
To discover how toxic, hazardous and dangerous a chemical is, do this…
Before you use a product learn all about it. Know the risks. And if you’re already using a product your concerned about, it’s never too late to investigate and make a change if necessary. Here’s where to start looking for more safety and hazard information on the products you use.
- Read the label
Look for the ingredients list and words like DANGER, POISON, TOXIC, CAUTION, CORROSIVE or WARNING. - Request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
All good suppliers will be happy to provide one on request. - Skin Test (for personal care products only)
For personal care products that will make contact with your skin, do a small test first on the pulse area of your wrist. Wait up to 48 hours to make sure you don’t have a reaction. - Order a Product Safety Analysis from Naturopath Recommended
This analysis will assess the safety of the product at the ingredient level.
What is a Product Safety Analysis?
Here at Naturopath Recommended we offer a service where you can request a safety analysis of the personal care and cleaning products you use.
This analysis is only available for products that make their ingredients list available to the public.
We look at each ingredient’s safety profile. Then we report back on what hazardous products are in your products and you can decide if you will keep using the product or make a change.
Our clients are often shocked at how many hazardous ingredients are in non-hazardous products.
To learn more about of Product Safety Analysis service click here.
Helpful links
- Safework Australia – Chemicals
- NSW EPA – Chemicals in the home
- Campaign For Safe Cosmetics (CSC) – Chemicals of concern
- Chemical Safety – SDS Search (USA based website)
- EWG – Environmental Working Group (Personal Care Products)
- Study – Reducing chemical exposures at home: opportunities for action
- Plastic Busters – The 7 Types of Plastics: Their Toxicity and Common Uses