Dear “Earth Talk”: Which types of
household products are most likely to cause chemical sensitivities?
— John Morgan, Somerville, Mass.
Household products trigger chemical sensitivities in
hundreds of thousands of Americans every year, yet few people make the
connection between their skin rash or sneezing and the bottles and cans
stored beneath their kitchen sinks and in their broom closets.
Common reactions to everyday household cleansers and
other substances include migraines, asthma, and sinusitis, but more serious
cardiovascular, neurological, and autoimmune diseases may also result from
prolonged use or lack of adequate ventilation in areas in which these
chemicals are being applied. “Early warning signs are burning and
irritation of the sinuses, nose, or throat — usually not with a fever
— and itching or sneezing,” says Dr. Grace Ziem, a
public-health physician specializing in chemical injuries.
Prevention is the key; removing toxic compounds from
your home is the strategy. You can begin under the kitchen sink by
replacing traditional choices with “products your grandmother
bought,” says Suzanne Olson of the Environmental Health Network.
“Borax, vinegar, and baking soda will clean most items around the
house.” Olson uses vegetable oil to polish furniture and shuns any
item with a fragrance.
“If any ingredient ends in
‘ethylene’ or ‘ethane,’ it’s not a healthy
product,” says Cynthia Wilson of the Chemical Injury Information
Network. She recommends using scent-free, dye-free laundry products and
oxygen-based whitening additives in place of toxic bleach. Two companies
that supply nontoxic laundry products, as well as other green-friendly
household cleaners, are Seventh Generation and Earth Friendly Products. You
can shop both online or in natural-foods markets and some supermarkets.
Synthetic home furnishings can also trigger
sensitivities. Foam, particleboard, and veneers may all aggravate a variety
of symptoms. And sweet dreams may elude you if you have chemical
sensitivities to items in your bedroom. Most mattresses are made from
artificial materials, and some beds contain chemical mold inhibitors;
almost all have been treated with fire retardant. To stop chemical
sensitivities from ruining your sleep, choose a mattress manufactured from
organically grown cotton. Two good sources are Lifekind Products and Heart
of Vermont; both offer secure online ordering.
If you think household chemicals are bothering you,
Ziem suggests keeping a log to help pinpoint the offenders. The best way to
find out whether any chronic ailments you may have are caused or aggravated
by household products is to take a simple inventory of your home and its
contents, then replace synthetic products with natural ones wherever
possible. By ridding the home of some of these culprits, you and your
family are bound to breathe easier.
For more information: Environmental Health Network,
users.lmi.net/wilworks/, 415-541-5075; Chemical Injury Information Network,
www.ciin.org, 406-547-2255; Seventh Generation, www.seventhgeneration.com, 800-456-1191; Earth Friendly Products,
www.ecos.com, 800-335-3267; Lifekind, www.lifekind.com, 800-284-4983; Heart
of Vermont, www.heartofvermont.com, 800-639-4123.
Send questions to “Earth Talk” in care of E/The Environmental Magazine,
P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881, or e-mail earthtalk@emagazine.com.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2005.
