Chemical safety at home

Many household chemicals and toxic
substances are stored in the garage or
workbench area.

Chemicals hide in many common household products, and prolonged exposure to these volatile organic compounds and other substances has been linked to short-term and long-term health effects.

In fact, the indoor air quality in many homes is bad enough to become a serious concern. Pollutants include particulate matter (dust, dander, particles), biological contaminants (bacteria, viruses, mold) and chemicals (volatile organic compounds etc).

While all of the pollutants can affect the health and well-being of residents, AllerAir’s industry experts are most concerned about chemicals, since many of the commonly available chemicals have not been tested yet, or have been liked with serious health effects like cancer, among others.

Possible sources of chemicals in the home:

• Building materials
• Paints
• Glues, varnishes
• Cleaning agents
• Air fresheners
• Aerosol sprays, hair styling products
• Perfume and personal care products
• And more

Many household chores involve chemicals that can cause health problems, if they are not handled carefully.

Most toxic household chemicals are likely to be stored in the garage, workshop or shed, making them the most toxic areas around the home and increasing the chance of exposure.

An article about the health of men and the many chemicals they are exposed to traditionally warned about the following sources:

• Lawn fertilizer and pesticides
• Automotive products such as oil, antifreeze, batteries
• Furniture strippers, glues, paint removers
• Drain cleaners
• Pool chemicals
• Metal cleaners

The article also offers guidelines and tips on preventing chemical exposure and to keep the entire family safe.

These tips include reading the label and choosing less toxic products, wearing protective equipment and keeping the number for the poison control center handy.

Air purifiers remove dangerous airborne chemicals (and other pollutants)

AllerAir has designed a wide range of air purifiers for the home and office that are equipped with many pounds of activated carbon for the removal of chemicals and odors as well as a HEPA filter to trap particles. These powerful air cleaners are cost-effective, portable and versatile.

Contact one of AllerAir’s IAQ experts to get the right unit, best options and most helpful features or check out the interactive guide on the AllerAir home page, 5 Steps to find the right air purifier.