6 household chemicals to avoid

People spend about 90% of their time indoors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That means your indoor air quality (IAQ), whether at work or at home, is extremely important to your health. And you might not even be aware that IAQ can typically be up to about five times more contaminated than outdoor air.

Think about the effort you might put into choosing natural or organic foods. Or the money you spend on bottled water and filters. Do you put that much energy or care into ensuring the air you breathe is clean and healthy? You only eat three meals a day and you might drink eight glasses of water, but the average person takes17,000 or more breaths per day. It doesn’t take much math to figure out you might want to put more care into the air you breathe than what you eat or drink. So to help you out, we’ve created a list of six types of chemicals in common household items that can affect your indoor air quality.

Alcohols

Chemicals to avoid: ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol

Found in: hairspray, nail polish and remover, perfumes, rubbing alcohol

Negative effects: irritated skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs; nausea, vomiting and seizures

Aldehydes

Chemicals to avoid: formaldehyde, hexanal

Found in: furniture, carpets, plywood, linoleum, paints, building materials

Negative effects: watery eyes, coughing, nausea, skin irritation, headaches

Alkanes

Chemicals to avoid: n-Butane, n-Pentane, n-Hexane, n-Heptane, n-Octane

Found in: spray products, cosmetics, vehicle exhausts, paint thinner, spot removers, leather treatments, pest control products, furniture polishes

Negative effects: drowsiness, light-headedness, nose and throat irritation, lung irritation, headache, loss of consciousness

Aromatics

Chemicals to avoid: benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, naphthalene

Found in: deodorizers, moth balls, air fresheners, insecticides, paint thinner, furniture polish, vehicle exhausts, oil-based paints, contact cement

Negative effects: vomiting, stomach irritation, convulsions, anemia, fainting, death

Ketones

Chemicals to avoid: acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone

Found in: PVC products, adhesives, contact cement, UV cured varnishes

Negative effects: nose, throat, lung and eye irritation; headache, dizziness, confusion, vomiting

Terpenes

Chemicals to avoid: pinene and limonene fragrance additives (pine and lemon scent)

Found in: Cosmetics, air fresheners, cleaning agents, disinfectants

Negative effects: while these chemicals aren’t toxic on their own, when released into the air they can react with ozone to produce formaldehyde

In addition to avoiding these common chemicals when possible, you should consider investing in an air purification device to keep you safe when chemicals can’t be avoided. The Ti-DOX SterilizAire™ provides 24/7 protection throughout your entire house or office. It simultaneously destroys airborne germs and chemicals to deliver the cleanest indoor air imaginable.

About Ti-DOX HydroxylizAire

Designed to easily attach to any existing furnace or HVAC system, the Ti-DOX HydroxylizAire cleans air as it flows through the chamber using a patented based 8-way design. It uses UVC technology to safely generate powerful hydroxyl radicals to neutralize and destroy harmful pollutants. It works 24/7, giving you total peace of mind.

If you’re ready to find out more about Ti-DOX, we would love to review your home or business requirements with you. Contact us here.