There is a list of toxic ingredients that you should avoid in your home. The main 9 that I will list off are the ones that are researched more extensively and have proven to have serious side effects. The 9 are:
- Formaldehyde
- Chlorine Bleach
- Ammonia
- Abrasives
- Phosphates
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Triclosan
- Quaternary Disinfectants
The one I want to focus on today is Formaldehyde
What is it found in?
Most common places formaldehyde is found are medicines, cosmetics, dishwashing liquid, fabric softener, laundry detergent, cleaning products, and air fresheners. The list isn’t limited to this and it doesn’t mean it is in every single one of these products in these categories, but the odds are just really high. The standard to report the word formaldehyde isn’t mandatory. So a lot of times you have to look for key words of ingredients that release these VOC’s which is formaldehyde.
The reason this is important is that it can cause some forms of cancer, breathing in the release of formaldehyde can cause nose and throat irritation, it can take two years for formaldehyde to diminish from products, high levels can cause shortness of breath, lung function issues, asthma, and skin rashes.
The amount a body can tolerate is varying! How much is safe for someone can vary to another. It isn’t worth the risk when we know there are safe alternatives. With 85,000 chemicals and only 1% are tested, this one is a big no for me!
