You Definitely Used One of These Deadly Household Items Today
While we know that gas-burning stoves and various cleaning products are just some of many dangerous items that can be in our homes, there are plenty of questionable products lying around our house with hidden dangers we don't know the effects of-until now. Below, we list the 19 most dangerous items you could have in your home, and the damage they can cause.
1. Non-Stick Cookware. While it's nice not to have to soak your pans overnight or scrape off burnt-on food, the ease of non-stick cookware comes with a price-your safety. Polytetrafluoroethylene, the coating that makes products "non-stick" releases gases when heated at 600 degrees, all of which have been linked to putting humans at higher risk for cancer and other harmful health effects.
2. Flea and Tick Products. Pets' flea and tick products may save your pooch from unwanted bites, but due to pesticides, it can lead to nerve damage, neurological problems, seizures, and more, according to an alert issued by the FDA.
3. Mothballs. Naphthalene, found in mothballs and products alike, can destroy red blood cells and has been proven to cause cancer in animals but has not yet been proven to cause cancer in humans. Since mothballs turn from solids into vapor, you're essentially inhaling the insecticide, which can cause nausea, dizziness, disorientation, and difficulty breathing.
4. Air Fresheners. Toxins found in air fresheners can accumulate in the body over time. According to the Ackerman Cancer Center, they contain phthalates and other hazardous chemicals that can easily be inhaled, absorbed on the skin, or ingested by accident. Long-term exposure to chemicals in air fresheners can cause damage to the lungs, kidneys, central nervous system, and can even alter the body's hormones, which increases an individual's risk of cancer and can cause reproductive issues.
5. Oven Cleaner. Many of these cleaners contain corrosive alkalis, which can have grave effects on your gastrointestinal track and respiratory system if inhaled and can be deadly if swallowed.
6. Furniture Polish and Stain. Non-vegetable, oil-based stains and polishes are not only extremely flammable but contain the chemicals phenol and nitrobenzene, which can be absorbed by your skin and cause skin cancer. Medline says if the poison touches your skin or eyes, you can experience irritation, vision loss, or skin burns. If you accidentally swallow it, furniture polish can cause severe throat or stomach pain, throat swelling, vomiting, and may even induce a coma.
7. Toilet Bowl Cleaner. The corrosive ingredients that make acidic toilet bowl cleaners clean so well are the same ingredients that can cause burns on skin and eyes when they come in contact. They are also extremely dangerous when mixed with other types of cleaners.
8. Gas Space Heaters. Gas-powered anything releases toxins, and using them indoors can lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning -a condition that presents very little warning symptoms. According to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters cause 43 percent of home heater fires each year.
9. Cleaning Solutions. As the biggest offenders on the list, and the most commonly used, it's no secret household cleaners contains hazardous toxins. What's most concerning is it's not required for cleaners to list their ingredients on the bottle, leaving consumers in the dark: even those claiming to be "green" or "natural." A study published in the Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine states that cleaning products are as bad for the lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
10. Extension Cords. While an extension cord itself isn't dangerous, the way they're commonly used can be. Many people don't realize there is a voltage capacity, and plug in as many things as they can-creating a huge fire hazard. The CPSP estimates that there are 4,600 residential home fires each year that have to do with extension cords, and kill 70 people and harm 230 annually. They also estimate that around 2,200 shock-related injuries from extension cords happen each year.
11. Antibacterial Soaps. For many years antibacterial soaps were assumed the "better" way to ward of harmful diseases and bacteria. There actually has been no proven data that antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than plain soap and water. According to the FDA, it can be linked to creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and impacts the effectiveness of certain medical treatments.
12. Flaking Paint. Homes built as recently as the late '70s can have interiors covered in lead-based paints-which is hazardous when the paint starts to flake AND when it's time to repaint. Inhaling these particles can lead to lead poisoning, especially in pregnant women and children.
13. Flame Retardants. Often found in older couches, mattresses and carpet padding, flame retardant chemicals have been linked to infertility, birth defects, cancer, and immune system problems. A study conducted by Duke University found that flame retardants are increasingly showing up in people's bodies, which vastly raises health concerns.
14. Humidifiers. Research published in Pediatrics found that humidifiers may actually be doing more harm than good, especially to infants. The buildup of minerals in the traditional machine may lead to lung injury.
15. Bleach. This almost goes without saying, but bleach is an extremely hazardous chemical that almost everyone has stored in their homes. Not only will the ingestion of bleach cause internal problems and fatalities, it also increases your risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to research.
16. Printers. Research published by the American Chemical Society looks into the particulate matter emitted made by your household printer and suggests that they may be just as similar as those released in cigarette smoke.
17. CFL Light Bulbs. These kind of light bulbs themselves aren't a danger until they break. When they do, they release a small amount of mercury into the air, which could be hazardous in your home. If this happens, follow these steps released by the Environmental Protection Agency, including airing out the room in particular for 5-10 minutes where the break occurred.
18. Dryers. While they're free of chemicals, dryers pose another threat to the safety of your home. Each year there are 2,900 fires caused by dryers, according to FEMA, causing an average of five deaths. To prevent overheating, make sure to always clean out your lint trap and get your dryer serviced frequently.
19. Electric Blankets. Electricity is never something to mess around with, especially when dealing with heating gadgets. A report by the National Center for Biotech Information revealed that there have been instances where people have experienced heat stroke due to electric blankets, and some believe they can lead to reproductive problems.
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