It can be surprising how many products out there have toxic components. Everything from makeup to antibacterial soaps has dangerous ingredients that can put you in danger and mess up the environment. In the past, some famous examples include asbestos and arsenic. Fortunately, modern technology and sensibilities have come up with alternatives to several of these products.
Here are some examples of toxic products that you should be replacing and the possible alternatives:
Cleaning Products
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to being toxic is the variety of cleaning products that people use. Everything from bleach to air freshener can be full of dangerous chemicals. Improper uses can easily lead to health problems. There is also the problem that they are potential accidents waiting to happen. Leaving them around unsecured can result in young children drinking them by accident. The leading problem chemical is bleach. There are many ways people can make mistakes when using it. It is used because it is very thorough in cleaning things.
Fortunately, there are a variety of cleaning solution alternatives out there. Vinegar is a surprisingly common substitute. It is a natural disinfectant and it is gentle enough to clean clothes with. Another potential replacement is hydrogen peroxide. It may seem a harsh chemical but compared to bleach it is much gentler. You still have to take care in using it.
Household Pest Control
Pesticides are another toxic substance that can be found in the home. If you have the habit of using rat poison or spray fly killer all over the place, then you’re taking a risk. When you spray it in the air, there is a risk that it may linger on the room’s surfaces. A safer solution would be to use the various alternatives out there. For example, instead of a mosquito repellent spray, you can use a low-cost mosquito trap instead.
Mechanical solutions like flypaper and rat traps may take up space, but it is better than poisoning yourself. You can also choose to use natural solutions. Marigolds and feverfew are nice flowers that emit a scent that many pests dislike. Planting them around your windows can be a great move.
Cosmetics
Looking good can be very dangerous. In the past, some forms of makeup used arsenic and lead as their main ingredients. The result was that it inadvertently poisoned many who used them. You might think that people have gotten smarter but it seems that they are still making the same mistake. A recent study shows that more than half of the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada show signs of high levels of fluorine. This is the sign of the presence of Perfluorooctanoic acid or PFAS.
Better known as forever chemicals, these are toxic substances that are usually found in plastic products. There are a variety of health risks linked to it. If you want to look good, there are alternatives that you can use. For example, crushed pomegranate seeds are a great natural substitute for lipstick. Mixed with milk cream and applied carefully, they can turn your lips naturally red.
Plastic Items
PFAS are more commonly found in plastic containers. While normally not a problem, they become an issue when it is mixed with food. Plastic food containers can be a problem since the food can interact with the plastic so that you end up microscopic plastic particles. It is very bad in the long run. A simple substitute for these containers would be glass and similar materials. They can be safer and also more durable in keeping food safe.
Gardening Supplies
If you have a lawn, you might end up using a variety of chemicals. For example, herbicides and pesticides are common tools for the home gardener. However, they can harm the land. They can seep into the ground and get into the water table. Even if it doesn’t the land would still be full of chemicals. It would be much better to choose organic methods when it comes to maintaining your lawn and backyard garden.
For example, instead of herbicide, manual weed removal would be the more natural option. It can be time-consuming but it is a completely clean method of weed killing. Other organic methods can help a lot in ensuring your garden is free of toxic substances.
Convenience is often the reason why many people use these products. But an easy time now can mean problems later. Some of the chemicals in these items are carcinogenic, while others are simply poison. Avoid the issues coming from using them by using the substitutes instead. You’ll find that they can be worth it in the long run.
