In a word: VOC's; in 3 words: Volatile Organic Compounds
From Medscape.com
"These chemical compounds vaporize at room temperature into gases from multiple liquid or solid sources. The individual chemical compounds may differ in level present in any one location; however, the combination of multiple VOC's is of serious concern. These gases emanate from a vast number of items in the home and school and are suspected of causing "sick building syndrome." A few of the common sources are pesticides, solvents, cleaning materials, air fresheners, bleach, household cleaners, spray product propellants such as furniture wax or hair spray, and nail polish and remover. These products contain an array of chemicals such as benzene, chloroform, vinylidene chloride, and formaldehyde, many of which are known carcinogens. VOC's will likely be higher in new construction and indoor air. "
(bold italics are mine)
For most of us removing the actual building materials that release harmful gases is unrealistic, but there are three actions we can take today to effectively reduce the amount of poison we and our children are exposed to.
One: DO NOT USE toxic cleaning products.
Two: Install an excellent multi-stage air filter that ionizes without producing any ozone.
Three: Make your own safe cleaning products: How to make a non-toxic cleaning kit - Follow the link to find 8 easy and economical recipes for creating a green housecleaning kit. At the end of the article you'll find an easy to read pdf and shopping list. These recipes will cost significantly less in dollars and in health.
Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than
thinking that a little won't matter.
thinking that a little won't matter.
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