Does Your Home Need Detox?
If it seems the daily news more and more often includes warnings about toxic threats in our air, soil, water, plants and animals, there's a good reason. "In the last 50 years the number of chemicals in our world has increased from 1.2 million to over 50 million," says Earl Siegel, PharmD, co-director of the Drug and Poison Information Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
We can breathe in these toxins, eat them or even absorb them through our skin, often without noticing. Yet while you can't wrap your family in a bubble, you can take healthy steps to help limit their exposure to the potential harm from some of our environment's more common toxic elements.
To reduce your exposure to pesticides and other chemicals on your food:
- Select produce that is free of dirt, cuts, insect holes or other signs of spoilage
- Wash produce in water (not soap), scrub its skin or peel its outer leaves
- Eat a variety of foods from a variety of sources
- Discard outer leaves of leafy vegetables; trim fat from meat and skin from poultry and fish where pesticide residue collects
To prevent toxic mold from taking hold in your home:
- Use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth in extremely damp places
- Schedule regular maintenance that includes inspection for water leaks
- Repair leaky or broken pipes, windows or older doors that lack good seals
- Check for visible mold in moist or damp parts of the building
- Correct any conditions that could be a possible cause of mold or fungi growth
To reduce lead in your home:
- Leave your shoes at the door before walking into your house; lead comes from vehicular and industrial exhaust. Because it's heavier than air, it falls to the ground, and we can unknowingly walk it into our homes
- Don't bring lead dust into your home from work or a hobby
- Fix chipping paint as soon as you notice it, especially in older homes where lead-based paint was used. And make sure your child isn't chewing on anything covered in lead-based paint
- Limit your child's exposure to renovation areas in an older home or building where lead-based paint was used
And don't forget the potential toxic effect of seemingly "safe" everyday products. "Products and medicines can be poisonous if they are used in the wrong way, in the wrong amount or by the wrong person. Children are explorers and often things go straight into their mouths almost like a magnet. They can get into anything and everything so it's important to poison proof your home," says Dr. Siegel. "That's why I always like to teach prevention."
- Store products properly and in the original container; keep them locked up, where children cannot see or reach them; always use child-resistant packaging
- Use products safely; read and follow directions carefully on medicines and products
- Never call medicine candy; always take medicine where children cannot see and imitate you
- Don't mix two different products together because there can be a chemical interaction
- Teach children to ask an adult's permission before eating or drinking anything
Finally, keep the number for Poison Control where everyone can find it: 1-800-222-1222 or 513-636-5111.
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