Enter into any supermarket and chances are you’re immediately surrounded by a ton of products, many of which you’re familiar with, along with a few you’ve probably never even heard of.
Unfortunately, many of the products on those shelves (and some of which are probably in your home right now) can cause you harm over time.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating many of the products that we buy. But not all products fall under the blanket of FDA approval, particularly cosmetics.
The problem with products that may be harmful to humans is that we usually aren’t aware that we’re using potentially hazardous products until patterns of illness, injury, or disease start to manifest.
In the following article, we’ll explore a few common products that can be harmful to humans.
Talcum Powder.
Talcum powder is largely a common product found in households across the United States. And since 1976, the recommendation for talc to be tested to ensure that it is asbestos-free has reduced the amount of natural talc found in body powders.
However, not all body powders contain asbestos-free talc. And those which do have been shown to cause different types of cancers, particularly ovarian cancer in women and lung cancer.
Talcum powder has an absorptive quality that makes it perfect for use with hygiene products and cosmetics. But many women who have used the product over time are considering filing lawsuits due to the development of ovarian cancers.
Additionally, evidence has shown that the Johnson & Johnson brand knew about asbestos levels in its talcum powder and failed to alert the public about it. And this has been a primary cause for class action lawsuits being brought against the company.
Non-Stick Cookware.
It’s nice to cook a large family meal and not have to worry about scraping off burnt food, grease, or soaking your cookware in a sink of soapy water overnight while you’re in bed. But ask any chef, and they’ll tell you, using non-stick cookware can put your health at risk.
Non-stick cookware is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, a big fancy word that includes products such as Teflon. And this is the surfacing treatment that makes cookware “non-stick”.
Essentially, when heated, the chemical compounds within the non-stick coating release gasses that can cause cancer if exposure is frequent. The material also erodes during the heating process and is often scraped off during cooking and cleaning. The compound can also end up in your food because of scraping and heat erosion.
At the end of the day, it’s a best practice to use stainless steel or cast iron cookware, even if they do take longer to clean.
Air Fresheners.
We all love that clean smell when we walk into our homes at the end of a long workday. Well, the only problem with chemical air fresheners is that the compounds within them can also end up in our bodies.
They might smell great, but you’re inhaling the aroma and the harmful aerosols that are put into the air from air fresheners. And this can actually cause changes at the chemical level within the human body, even affecting your DNA.
Air fresheners are also full of trace amounts of toxins, and these toxins end up in the body due to inhalation.
And though you won’t get sick immediately from this type of exposure, studies performed by the National Research Defense Council have found that the toxins present in air fresheners can affect hormones and reproductive health, particularly in children.
If you’re going to use a form of air freshener, it’s considered best practice to use natural plants and herbs to help freshen the air, or by heating natural oils.
Whether they’re under your sink, in your medicine cabinet, or out in the garage, the average home is full of potentially harmful products. Knowing what products can cause you and your family harm is the first step to maintaining a safe and healthy home.
