Innocuous objects: Danger at home

Are you aware of all the potentially harmful toxins and chemicals hidden in everyday objects at home? We may not know it, but common objects such as plastics and paper products host properties that can cause hormone disruption as well as other complications which include damage to the immune system and even cancer. Here’s an inside look at some of the leading offenders, their effects on health and how to avoid them.

Commonly found in: Adhesives and glues, electronics, agricultural adjuvants, building materials, personal-care products, medical devices, detergents, packaging, children’s toys, modeling clay, waxes, paints, printing inks and coatings and things made of vinyl or PVC.

Commonly found in: Furniture containing polyurethane including couches, chairs, futons and carpet padding.

Commonly found in: Grease-resistant food packaging and paper products, such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes and cleaning and personal-care products like shampoo, dental floss and denture cleaners.

Commonly found in: A variety of common consumer goods, such as water bottles, sports equipment, CDs and DVDs. Epoxy resins containing BPA are used to line water pipes, as coatings on the inside of many food and beverage cans and in making thermal paper such as that used in sales receipts.

Commonly found in: Paints in old homes, water pipes and some children’s toys.

Commonly found in: Areas that have gone through agriculture or residential landscaping, public recreation areas and in public health pest control programmes such as mosquito eradication.

Commonly found in: Some soils, sediments and food, especially dairy products, meat, fish and shellfish. Very low levels are found in plants, water and air.

This infographic is created by Owain Lloyd-Williams, a UK-based writer and creative content author on behalf of BodyLogic MD. He tweets @Owain_LW

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, October 5^th, 2014.