Introducing this topic

Our homes are our sanctuary. Home is the place we return to after a busy day, and where our children sleep and play. However within many of our homes there are certain products that may pose a potential risk to our health and the health of those that we love.

There are numerous pollutants within products commonly found in our homes. Some of these pollutants have been identified by Tox Town (an initiative of the United States National Library of Medicine), as posing a possible risk to human health. These pollutants include

• Lead
• Asbestos
• Carbon Monoxide
• and Toxic Chemicals including Pesticides and Formaldehyde

The United States Environmental Protection Agency suggests that there are measures we can adopt in an attempt to minimise exposure to environmental dangers within our homes.

But how much of a risk do these pollutants actually pose to our health?

And

Is it appropriate for us to take steps to reduce any possible risk?

The debate surrounding the extent of any risks associated with the use of some of these pollutants continues. In her book Haunted Housing: How toxic Scare Stories are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home, Cassandra Moore suggests that the fear surrounding some of these pollutants may be unwarranted. Moore questions the validity of some of the studies used to justify this fear and implies that results may have been distorted due to bias and the small amount of participants taking part in the studies.

Despite these suggestions, there is evidence that exposure to some household products increases the chances of developing some cancers as well as other health problems. The Collaborative on Health and the Environment's, Toxicant and Disease Database contains a list of health conditions that have been associated with exposure to toxic products. Some of these products are found within many homes.

The most appropriate way to manage any potential risks that exist as a result of toxic products within a home, will be different for different people. Economic factors and lifestyle differences will have an effect on people's desire and ability to alter their habits. Reading this blog does not guarantee health problems will not occur, however it is intended to assist people in making informed decisions regarding the management of possible potential risks.

References

Moore, C. (1997) Haunted Housing: How Toxic Scare Stories Are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home. Washington: Cato Institute. Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from Google Books: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=3bZFITYHM5M&printsec=frontcover&dq=haunted=housing&lr=lang_en&num=30&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

National Library of Medicine(2009). Tox Town - Homes. Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/lovations.php?id=31

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment. (2010). Toxicant and Disease Database. Retrieved 13 January, 2010 from http://healthandenvironment.org/tddb

United States Environmental Protection Agency, (2009). The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

United States National Library of Medicine. (2010). Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/