Top 10 Toxins in Your Home, Room by Room

With these tricks you can recognize and avoid toxic substances in the apartment!

We spend around 90% of our lives indoors and these are sometimes contaminated with pollutants and irritating substances. There are many substances with which we come into contact and whose harmfulness we are often not even aware of. Many residential toxins are odorless today. It is often only through health restrictions that you notice that something is wrong. But some patients go from doctor to doctor without getting rid of their symptoms. No wonder if the cause, which may lie in the domestic environment, has not been considered.

This is how complaints from residential toxins can express themselves:

Toxic long-term effects and allergic effects can occur as a result of living space toxins. These are about:

  • Irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes
  • Central nervous system disorders
  • Unexplained allergies and hypersensitivities

Potentially harmful substances are lurking here, making healthy living difficult

  • Mould. Mold infestation seems to be increasing in Germany. Even if the infestation is small, mold spores can lead to various diseases . The causes are manifold. Construction defects, undetected water damage, a leaky roof, poor drainage, incorrect heating and ventilation and many more. Especially newly renovated houses, whose windows are very well sealed, sometimes show a sudden onset of mold. Only those who recognize and combat the cause of the mold infestation can get the matter under control.
  • Formaldehyde. It can leak from chipboard, from which furniture is made. It is best to use furniture made of solid wood that comes from sustainable forestry. A cheap alternative is used furniture, which poses a lower risk. Incidentally, inexpensive furniture does not have to be expensive. This year, Öko Test has only examined a few parts of the Swedish furniture – with good results.
  • plasticizer. They are banned in many products and yet occur in large numbers in our environment. Sensitive people, especially small children or chronically ill people, can show reactions here. The Federal Environment Agency assesses the health risk of plasticizers as low because they only occur in small quantities. Here, however, one should consider that the polluting substances in the environment naturally add up. It is best to find out which products contain plasticizers and replace them with more suitable ones. You can do without many things for the sake of your health.
  • Solvent. They are found in many cleaning agents, adhesives, paints and varnishes. Anyone who is sensitive or has small children in the household. should exercise particular caution here. In most cases there is a healthier alternative to a product.
  • wood preservatives. Treated wood is used in the construction of prefabricated houses in particular, and is found in panels and roof beams, in intermediate stands and chipboard. When it comes to furniture, you should also make sure that it has been treated in a compatible manner and, for example, bears the Blue Angel seal.
  • lead . Although only unleaded petrol is used in Germany, the concentration of lead in house dust has not decreased significantly. Experts assume that the toxic heavy metal can be found in paints, primers, carpets and PVC floors in German households. Lead has a neurotoxic effect and is particularly dangerous for children.
  • crop protection products . Pesticides are not only found in an agricultural environment. These substances can also be found in carpets or wallpaper. Be careful when buying, pay attention to the relevant seals and prefer not to use vinyl or styrofoam wallpaper. Those who are particularly sensitive should consider: low in pollutants does not mean free of pollutants.
  • Asbestos. It used to be used en masse for fire protection, for example, and can also be found in old PVC panels, seals and electric storage heaters. How harmful the substance is was not clear for a long time, but today it has long been banned. Nevertheless, asbestos is always found when renovating old houses. If you suspect that you have encountered asbestos, you must hire a specialist. Fibers that must not be inhaled are released during the removal process. In addition, asbestos must be disposed of properly. Anyone who simply throws it in the garbage has to reckon with hefty fines.
  • Organic matter from cigarette smoke. Smoking, if at all, should only be done outside. But the cold smoke in your hair and clothes can also be dangerous. For example, it is suspected of being a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome.

This is how you can reduce pollutants

  1. Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate! Fresh air is the most important tip against indoor toxins. The windows should be fully open and not just tilted.
  2. It is better to buy natural wood furniture than one made of pressboard. Used furniture is a great alternative.
  3. Better a coat of paint with a harmless color than wallpaper.
  4. Who has the choice: It is better to have wooden floorboards laid than to use a carpet or PVC covering.
  5. For all substances that you bring into the apartment, you should read the data sheets and get detailed information.
  6. A smell test often helps: If something smells suspiciously, it is better not to buy it.
  7. Smoking in the apartment should be avoided.
  8. Fragrance oils and fragrances can also trigger allergies.

What can you do if you suspect living space toxins?

Sometimes the connection is obvious, for example when you have laid a new carpet and complaints arise shortly afterwards. Otherwise, you can also consult a building biologist. You can carry out a chemical analysis of house dust and materials and have the room air examined.

Crystal Waston MD

Crystal Waston has a degree in Cross Media Production and Publishing. At vital.de she gives everyday tips and deals with topics related to women's health, sport, and nutrition.

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