YOUR HOME IS YOUR HAVEN. But, warn environmental experts, it can also be the place where you face the most chemicals and other substances that threaten your health. Here's a look at the most serious health dangers in your home and some fast, easy ways to deal with them. You have a lot to gain by addressing these problems: You'll protect your lungs, ease allergies and headaches, possibly prevent cancer, and even improve your sleep, energy levels, and concentration.
Your Bedroom
Bed Linens: You spend about one-third of your life in bed, and that's a long time to breathe the noxious chemicals found in permanent press polyester-cotton sheets, says environmental health consultant Debra Lynn Dadd, the Clearwater, Fla.-based author of Home Safe Home (Putnam, 1997). To make these fabrics wrinkle-resistant, manufacturers treat them with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that's also linked to insomnia and fatigue. Plus, because synthetic fibers don't breathe like natural fibers, they'll trap your perspiration and you can wake up feeling damp. The average person gives off a pint of perspiration during an eight-hour sleep, says environmental home expert Annie Berthold-Bond, the Rhinebeck, N.Y.-based author of Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999). The moisture can breed mold and mildew.
For chemical-free sleep, Berthold-Bond recommends sheets made of organically grown cotton. In addition, choose 100 percent wool blankets, which wick away moisture, maintain an optimal body temperature, dry quickly, and resist mildew.
Mattress: It's not necessarily the safe nest you imagine. Most mattresses contain polyurethane foam and polyester, which can irritate your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, Dadd says. Additionally, mites, mold, and yeast can live and thrive in mattresses, making your allergies flare.
To minimize your contact with these chemicals and allergens, Dadd advises purchasing a natural mattress topper made of wool. Or, if you're in the market for a new mattress, Dadd recommends an all-wool model. Wool is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and moisture, and doesn't contain harmful components. An all-wool set costs about the same as a quality mattress set. One source for wool mattresses is Shepherd's Dream (queen size; $1,172; 800-966-5540; www .shelSherdsdream.com). For a wool mattress topper, check out EcoBedroom (queen size; $482; 626-969-3707; www.ecobedroom.com).
Closets: Your bedroom closet is a surprising source of air pollution and mold, says building investigator Jeffrey May, the Cambridge, Mass.-based author of My House Is Killing Me: The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001). Dry-cleaned clothes give off fumes from solvents like perchloroethylene, a carcinogen that can damage your liver and central nervous system. Plus, mold and mites can live on the floor and walls, exacerbating your allergies every time you open the closet door. To prevent air pollution, hang newly dry-cleaned clothes in a well-ventilated room or outdoors, with the bag removed, until the odor of dry-cleaning solvents dissipates, May says. (This may take as long as a day or two.) To avoid mold and mite infestations in your closet, keep the closet floor as clean and dust-free as the rest of your bedroom. Instead of keeping shoes directly on the floor, store them in an elevated rack to allow air to circulate beneath them, which discourages mold.
Your Bathroom
Tiles, Ceilings, and Windowsills: The top complaint May hears about bathrooms is, 'I've got mold on the tile grout and other surfaces in my bathroom.' This unsightly growth can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, and headaches. To beat mold, first dry out your bathroom, he says. Open the door and window or use your bathroom fan to circulate air after showers. 'Even a little movement in air quickens evaporation,' says May. You might also consider a device like the ClosetMate Dehumidifier, a small, silent machine that uses convection coils to dry up to 1,000 cubic feet of air ($44.99; 800-999-3030; www .safetyzone.com).
To banish existing mold, combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. (Buy this oil at natural food stores.) Shake well and mist the solution directly onto problem areas. 'Nothing works as well as this mixture to remove mold,' says Berthold-Bond, the environmental home expert. 'I've used it successfully on moldy ceilings and shower curtains.' Use a sponge to wipe any big drips, but don't scrub or rinse away the solution. Tea tree oil has a strong odor that usually dissipates in about 12 hours. If you dislike the smell, treat the area just before you leave the house for the day.
Cleaning Products: Typical bathroom cleaners teem with harmful ingredients. Toilet and glass cleaners contain ammonia, cresol, ethanol, and phenol, all of which can irritate or burn your skin and lungs. Karyn Siegel-Maier, the Saugerties, N.Y.-based author of The Naturally Clean Home (Storey Books, 1999), recommends these gentler options to disinfect and shine: To clean your toilet, sink, and tub, combine 2 cups water, 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap, 1 tablespoon tea tree essential oil, and 10 drops eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) or peppermint (Mentha x piperita) essential oil in a spray bottle and shake well. (You can purchase these ingredients in natural food stores.) Spray the surface and then scrub with a brush or sponge. Follow with a damp sponge to rinse. To make your mirror and chrome shine, combine 1 1/2 cups white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, and 8 drops of a citrus essential oil like lemon (Citrus x limon) in a spray bottle and shake. Spray the solution on mirrors and faucets and wipe with a dry cloth or towel.
Personal Care Products: Three of the most popular beauty products--nail polish, polish remover, and hair spray--are also the most dangerous, says Dadd, the environmental home consultant. Nail polish contains dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, and toluene, toxins known to irritate the skin and respiratory tract and cause cancer, liver damage, and birth defects. Nail polish remover is made from acetone and ethyl acetate, which can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. And hair spray contains formaldehyde and polyvinylpyrrolidone plastic, both known carcinogens. Using hair spray regularly can also cause allergic skin reactions, eye and nose irritations, and increase your risk of lung disease.
Dadd recommends that you read labels and avoid products that contain these ingredients. Shop at natural food stores for hypoallergenic versions that contain fewer chemicals or alter your beauty routine to skip those products. For example, give yourself chemical-free manicures by filing and buffing your nails and grooming your cuticles without adding a coat of polish.
Your Kitchen
Cookware: The pots and pans you use could be making you sick. Aluminum is a toxic metal that's commonly used in cookware, says Stamford, Conn.-based medical journalist Morton Walker, co-author of Toxic Metal Syndrome: How Metal Poisonings Can Affect Your Brain (Avery, 1995). Aluminum leaches into food and when ingested can damage your kidneys and liver and weaken your bones, Walker says. Some researchers also believe the metal could cause Alzheimer's disease, but this is controversial because follow-up studies were unable to prove a solid link.
To protect yourself, determine what your cookware, bakeware, dinnerware, and utensils are made of; you'll probably need to contact the manufacturer to check. Healthy choices include glass, cast iron or enamel-coated cast iron, 100 percent stainless steel, porcelain, and lead-free terra cotta. Aluminum pans that are lined with stainless steel or anodized (coated to make them scratch resistant) are also safe.
Experts disagree about the level of risk presented by using aluminum foil for storage or cooking. If you'd prefer to be cautious, use glass jars to store leftovers or wrap foods in wax paper before wrapping them in aluminum.
Dishwashing Detergent: The desire for squeaky-clean dishes has left us breathing less-than-healthy amounts of chlorine, ammonia, and dye fumes from our liquid dish soap and dishwasher detergent. These cleaners release vapors (especially during the drying cycle in your dishwasher) that can irritate your eyes and breathing passages. These compounds also linger on your dishes, adding small amounts of detergent to your food.
It's better to make a safe alternative yourself or to purchase healthier options at a natural food store. This do-it-yourself dish soap recipe contains essential oils that 'pack a punch on germs but don't knock you out in the process,' says natural home author Siegel-Maier. Fill a clean 22-ounce squirt bottle with 4 tablespoons of liquid Castile soap and 2 1/2 cups of water. Add 15 drops of lemon essential oil, 6 drops of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia), and 5 drops of bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia). Shake the bottle before each use and use it as you would use regular dishwashing liquid. For chlorine- and phosphate-free automatic dishwasher detergent, Siegel-Maier recommends Seventh Generation's Free & Clear Automatic Dishwashing Detergent (50 oz; $4.99; 800-456-1191; www.seventhgeneration.com).
Sponges and Dishcloths: Studies show that the average kitchen sponge and dishcloth hold more than 100,000 bacteria, more germs than on your toilet seat, says Steven Bock, M.D., a family physician in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and co-author of The Germ Survival Guide (McGraw Hill, 2003). Most cases of food poisoning can be traced to uncooked or improperly cooked meats or fruits and vegetables that haven't been adequately washed. Juices from these foods land on your countertops and you use sponges and dishcloths to clean up the bacteria. But then you unwittingly allow these bacteria to multiply. 'Sponges and dishcloths are usually kept on the back of the sink where it's moist, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to grow,' Bock says.
There's no way to completely eliminate these germs, but you can minimize them by microwaving sponges for 60 seconds and dishcloths for 3 minutes on high. Or you can toss them in the dishwasher each time you wash your dishes, Bock advises.
Your Living Room
Carpets: They make your living room cozy, but wall-to-wall carpets are one of the biggest health threats in your home. Synthetic carpets contain neurotoxic solvents--including toulene and benzene, a known carcinogen--and emit these chemicals for up to 10 years after installation. Carpets can also breed bacteria, yeast, dust mites, and mold, says naturopath Todd Nelson, N.D., director of the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Denver, and co-author of Headache Survival (Penguin Putnam, 2002). In fact, many allergists recommend that patients with allergies get rid of carpets altogether, Nelson says. If you're unwilling to go carpet-free, make an effort to keep yours really clean. He recommends vacuuming carpets at least once a week (more if you have pets), ideally with a vacuum cleaner bag like the Micro-Clean bag by Homecare, which traps particles instead of releasing them back into the air, as most bags do. The Micro-Clean bag fits most standard vacuum cleaners and is available from National Allergy Supply Inc. ($2.99 for two bags; 800-522-1448; www.nationalallergy.com).
Furniture: Chances are your sofas and chairs add more than ambiance to your living room. Most home furnishings are made from materials like particleboard, polyurethane foam, and polyvinyl chloride, which all give off harmful fumes for years after you purchase them, Dadd says. These gases can irritate your eyes and respiratory tract and increase your risk of cancer. To make your living room healthier, buy furniture made from natural materials like wool and untreated wood, or purchase antique or used furniture that has finished releasing its gases (usually anything more than five years old). If you're buying untreated wood furniture, Dadd recommends finishing the pieces with water-based paints and stains like Flecto Varathane Interior Diamond Wood Finish, available in many home improvement stores (800-323-3584; www.flecto.com). For chemical-free furniture, Dadd suggests that you check out Organic Cotton Alternatives (888-645-4452; organiccottonalts.com); Sofa U Love (323-464-3397; www.sofaulove.com); and Shaker Workshops (800-840-9121; www.shakerworkshops.com).
Fireplace: A crackling fire in your fireplace looks inviting, but it carries risks. 'The primary danger is the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning,' says Dadd. You can't see, taste, or smell this lethal gas. Wood fires can also release benzopyrene, a carcinogen that can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Dadd--who enjoys her own fireplace often--recommends these precautions: First, make sure your fireplace and wood stove are installed properly and that the flue is open when you light a fire. Next, have your fireplace or wood stove inspected annually to remove any creosote build-up, which can block the chimney, forcing toxic fumes back into your living room. Always keep a window open (even a crack) to allow pollutants to escape the room. And finally, install a smoke and carbon monoxide detector near your fireplace and check the battery periodically.
Your Basement
Cracks and Crawl Spaces: Radon, the invisible, odorless radioactive natural gas found in many basements, causes lung cancer. It enters basements through cracks in floors and walls, crawl spaces, and sump pumps, and its microscopic particles attach themselves to airborne material like dust or cigarette smoke. You risk inhaling these harmful particles into your lungs.
To protect yourself, test your home with an inexpensive kit sold at hardware and home improvement stores. Look for a kit approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Or hire a professional inspector to test for it. If the test indicates that you have radon levels above 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/l), the EPA recommends that you work with a licensed radon contractor to install a radon mitigation system in your basement, which typically costs $1,000 to $2,000. If you have lower levels, you can try cheaper options, like opening a basement window to increase ventilation, or using caulk and cement to seal spaces that allow radon to enter. Retest to see if these measures lower the radon to a safe level (below 4 picocuries per liter). If they don't, experts advise that you hire a contractor.
Walls: If your basement is damp, its walls swarm with life: Mold and mildew grow on these surfaces, mites and book lice feed on the mold, and then spiders feed on the microscopic creatures, explains May, the home investigator. This ecosystem can cause the humans upstairs to suffer from chronic sinus and respiratory problems and even fatigue and depression. To control basement moisture, the first step is to determine where the water is entering. May suggests that you hire a building inspector to help find and remedy the moisture source. You may only need to install a dehumidifier--May recommends buying the largest one you can afford for greatest efficiency--and increase the basement temperature to at least 65 degrees.
Store as little as possible in your basement, May says; cardboard boxes, clothes, and books in particular breed mold and mildew. Possessions in the basement should be stored on metal shelves at least two feet from foundation walls and three inches off the floor. Keep clothing and other fabric items in airtight plastic bins or bags.
Your Laundry Room
Detergents: Made with petroleum distillates, bleaches, synthetic whiteners, and artificial fragrances, detergents leave residues on your clothes that can cause allergic reactions like rashes and lung irritation. To eliminate those risks, look for natural soap flakes or 'free-and-clear' detergents at supermarkets, natural food stores, or online companies. One option is the Liquid Laundry or Laundry Powder from California-based Soapworks (100 ounces; $20; 800-987-6564; www.soapworks.com).
You can also make your own inexpensive and healthy laundry powder with ingredients found in most natural food stores, says Casey Kellar, the Scappoose, Ore.-based founder of the natural body-care companies RainShadow Labs and RainCountry Naturals, and author of the Good Earth Home and Garden Book (Krause Publications, 2002). Mix together 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of powdered Castile soap, 1/4 cup washing soda (also known as sodium carbonate), and 1/4 cup borax. Use about half the amount you normally would, Kellar says.
Stain Removers: These often contain perchloroethylene, the solvent used in dry cleaning, which emits carcinogenic fumes that can make you lightheaded, nauseous, and disoriented. The upside is, you can toss out your stain removers and instead make safer versions. You probably have all the ingredients you need to safely wipe out common stains like blood, chocolate, and ink, Kellar says. Use these treatments on colorfast, water-safe fabrics, and be sure to tackle the stain as soon as possible after it occurs.
To remove blood, rinse the garment with cold water and make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit until totally dry. Use a brush to remove the dried paste and the stain. For chocolate stains, make a paste from 1 tablespoon borax, 1 tablespoon baking soda, and 1/4 cup cold water. Apply it to the stain, lightly scrub it with a brush, and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water and air dry. To remove ink stains, make a paste of equal amounts of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Apply the paste to the stain, allow it to set for 30 minutes, and then follow with a cold-water wash.
Fabric Softeners: Commercial fabric softeners are heavily scented with artificial fragrances that leave irritating residues on fabrics. White vinegar is a simple, natural alternative, says Siegel-Maier. It not only prevents static cling, but it also removes soap residue. To make your own lemon-scented fabric softener, combine in a heavy-duty plastic container 6 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of baking soda, and 15 drops of lemon essential oil. Add one cup to the rinse cycle for each load. If you're washing bright colors, cut back to a half cup; vinegar can cause some dyes to run.
Your Home Office
Computer Monitor: Some researchers believe that sitting too close to your computer monitor exposes you to unhealthy doses of electromagnetic radiation. And, says environmental health consultant Dadd, this could trigger behavior changes, memory loss, and even diseases like cancer. There are several ways to protect yourself, Dadd says. If you can, use a laptop computer; these have a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, which operates on weaker and safer voltage than desktop monitors. If you want to be particularly cautious, use battery power while working on your laptop, and recharge the battery when you're not in the room, Dadd suggests. Or outfit your monitor with a radiation-filter. These cost about $100 and can be purchased on office supply websites. As a general rule of thumb, Dadd says, position yourself at least 30 inches from the front and 40 inches from the back and sides of your monitor.
Office Supplies: They may be small, but office supplies contain potent chemicals. Solvent-based liquid correction fluids and permanent pens and markers, for example, contain acetone, cresol, trichloroethylene, toluene, and naphthalene, which have been linked to a range of health problems: dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, chronic cough, depression, and shortness of breath as well as cancer and birth defects, Dadd says.
Run a safer home office by using correction tape, a healthier alternative sold in most office supply stores. 3M and Paper-mate both make versions. As for pens, avoid products with the word 'permanent' on them and instead use water- or gel-based pens. Pilot is one brand available in most office supply stores.
Printer: Laser printers and photocopiers emit ozone, a gas known to cause eye, nose, and throat irritation and headaches, and impair your ability to stay focused. To improve your air quality and boost your job performance, keep your home office equipment in a well-ventilated space, says naturopathic physician Nelson. 'Ventilation is key to regulating how much indoor air pollution you're exposed to,' he says. Open a window (even a crack), keep a fan running, and add some houseplants. Aloe vera, chrysanthemums, ferns, ficus, philodendron, pothos, and spider plants are considered particularly good air filters, drawing pollutants out of the air and replacing them with fresh oxygen.
Your Garage
Lawn and Garden Equipment: Garages are often the catch-all for lawn mowers and snow blowers as well as leftover paint, paint thinner, and garden fertilizer. Storing fuel-powered equipment along with these compounds can create a toxic mix of fumes, May says. If you can, keep lawn equipment in a shed or other place separate from your home. If you must store it in an attached garage, May recommends that you keep it completely drained of gasoline. Also, don't let home improvement products accumulate in your garage. Find out when your town conducts its next hazardous waste collection and discard any unused compounds.
Cars: 'People tend to think of an attached garage as an exterior space, but it's not,' May says. Carbon monoxide and other potentially harmful fumes can flow from the garage into the rest of your house, triggering allergies and headaches, he says. To keep your home fume-free, never leave your car running in an attached garage. Also, check that the door leading from the garage into your house is airtight. If you can smell odors from your garage inside your house, or vice versa, it isn't, May says. To prevent seepage, you can apply weather stripping around the door or install a fire-rated door. This type of door, available at most home improvement stores, is designed to prevent gases from leaking into your house.
Consider This
Products for a Safe Home
These items will help you create a healthy haven for yourself and your family.
Shepherd's Dream Sleep Pillow
Conventional pillows contain synthetic filling materials like polyester, which can irritate your eyes, respiratory tract, and skin. These soft pillows are filled with wool, a safer material ($44 for the firm 23-ounce pillow, $40 for the softer 18-ounce pillow; 800-966-5540; www.shepherdsdream.com).
Organic Cotton Knit Sheet Set
These jersey knit sheets feature organic cotton and are not treated with chlorine bleach, chemical softeners, or synthetic dyes that can irritate skin. They're available in natural, smoky violet, or apple green ($90 for queen sheet set; 800-869-3603; www.gaiam.com).
Holy Smokes! Firestarters
Made from wood fiber and recycled church candles, these sticks will get your fire going without the toxic chemicals released when you burn newspapers. One package starts more than 30 fires ($16 for two packages; 800-762-7325; www.realgoods.com).
Terry Floor Mop
This multipurpose mop comes with two washable cotton terry covers that can be used dry to sweep up dust and wet to wash floors. The long handle and swivel head help you get at hard-to-reach areas. Use this in place of disposable floor sweepers sold with chemical cleaning solutions ($20; 800-869-3603; www.gaiam.com).
Hemp Shower Curtain
You won't need a separate vinyl liner with this long-lasting, machine-washable curtain. That's good news, since vinyl outgases toxic chemicals that can cause a range of health problems ($99; 800-869-3603; www.gaiam.com).
--Julia Tolliver Maranan
Consider This
Freshen Your Air, Naturally
When a room smells less-than-pleasant, you may be tempted to reach for a conventional air freshener spray. Stop yourself; these products contain a host of potentially harmful chemicals, like petroleum distillates, which irritate your lungs. Safer solutions are right under your nose.
Open a Window. There's nothing like fresh air to freshen your air. Open two windows or a door and window. Cross ventilation is the most effective way to reduce indoor air pollution.
Sweeten Your Garbage. Empty your garbage and clean the trash can weekly To maintain freshness, sprinkle 1/2 cup borax in the bottom of the can. This kills odor-producing bacteria and mold.
Make a Mist. Mix 1 cup distilled water and 5 to 7 drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake well and mist the air as needed. For really tough odors, healthy home expert Casey Kellar recommends that you blend 1 cup vodka with 20 drops of vanilla (Vanilla tahitensis) or pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray as needed.
Getting Started
A Primer on Safe Paint
Painting ranks as one of the most toxic home improvement projects. Oil-based paints have been banned in several states because they contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), known to alter your nervous system and cause liver and kidney damage. These chemicals leach into the air until the paint dries completely, which can take up to a month. But it's easy to find high-quality paints that contain lower levels of VOCs, says healthy home expert Debra Lynn Dadd. Here are your options.
Water-Based Latex Paints: They contain smaller amounts of VOCs than oil-based paints. They're safe if you follow the precautions on the label, which suggest ventilating your work area. After this paint dries, usually within a day, it stops outgassing. You can find it at any store that sells paint.
Low-VOC Paints: These latex paints are specially formulated to contain even lower levels of VOCs. Unlike the first generation of low-VOC paints, these offer excellent coverage and work on all surfaces. You'll find the best selection at paint stores like Sherwin-Williams and Glidden.
Milk Paints: Made of the milk protein casein, these flat-finish paints contain no VOCs. They work well on furniture, wood, and walls, but can't be used in damp places like kitchens and bathrooms because they foster mold growth. You're also limited to using earth tones, since the pigments in milk paint come from minerals known as iron oxides. One good source is The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company (978-448-6336; www.milkpaint.com).--J.T.M.
Theresa Anne Morin is a freelance writer in the Boston area. During a recent remodel, she chose tile over carpet.
