All the noise adds to the anxiety—are the household products you’ve relied on for years really hazardous? Should they be tossed immediately? To help quiet the chatter and follow the science, we asked the experts for recommendations backed by research studies as to what ingredients we should avoid, and how to have as low-tox a home as possible.
So: What’s an actual safety risk?
Despite all of the drama, it’s important to recognize that household chemicals can, indeed, pose real health risks. Most of us already know mixing bleach and ammonia is a major no-no or that lead paint or mold in the home can have damaging consequences. If you have asthma or eczema, certain ingredients might exacerbate your symptoms in the short term. And mounting evidence suggests everyday exposures to certain chemicals through furniture, kitchen tools, or cleaning supplies can also impact health in the long term, too.
The majority of us breathe in plenty of nasty stuff on the daily just by stepping outside—but inside, rogue particles can be much sneakier. Pollutants often enter the home through consumer goods, like via a couch cushion or the paint on your walls. And even though you’re not eating or drinking these products, according to scientists interviewed for this story, the smallest of toxic particles can end up in dust, creating an easily inhalable noxious cocktail. The solution is to steer clear of the worst offenders as much as possible. These are the chemicals the experts recommend avoiding when you can.
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—or PFAS—are used to make fabrics including carpets, rugs, mattresses, and stain and water-resistant upholstery. Dubbed “forever chemicals,” PFAS don’t break down or degrade quickly—research shows it can take decades or more—so as long as they’re in your home, you’ll be exposed, says Robin Dodson, associate director of research operations and a research scientist at Silent Spring Institute.
What’s more, the human body can’t metabolize PFAs, so they accumulate in human tissue. Once they are breathed in via the dust in your home—if you have pets or little kids, add touching and consuming to the equation—they can bind to proteins in the blood, says Sue Fenton, PhD, professor of biological sciences and director of the Center for Human Health and the Environment at North Carolina State University.
PFAS are also found in Teflon, the material commonly used on nonstick pans, and research has linked them to health effects ranging from hormonal issues, such as thyroid disorders and fertility problems, to various forms of cancer. Flame retardants, synthetic chemicals historically used on furniture and mattresses, have also been linked with increased cancer risk.
Phthalates
Chemicals used to make plastics flexible, phthalates are often found in vinyl flooring, shower curtains, and pipes. Some paints also contain phthalates to help them go on smoothly, says Dodson. Look for “free of phthalates” options as safer alternatives.
Cleaning supplies, from multi-purpose sprays to specialty cleaners, often use phthalate-containing fragrances (you’ll commonly see “fragrance” in the ingredients). Studies have linked exposure to certain phthalates to reproductive problems, such as diminished sperm count and preterm births, and high blood pressure.
Quats
Along with chemicals that can irritate people with respiratory issues or sensitive skin, cleaning products such as antibacterial soaps, disinfectant sprays and wipes, and laundry sanitizers may also contain quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), or quats. According to Rebecca Fuoco, director of science communications at the Green Science Policy Institute, an advocacy group that facilitates safer use of chemicals to protect human and ecological health, these sanitizers have been linked to various concerns, most notably to respiratory and development and reproductive problems. They are commonly listed as their scientific names on labels, such as benzalkonium chloride or didecyldimethylammonium chloride.
Microplastics
Common in kitchen storage containers, cutting boards, and utensils, microplastics can be harmful when ingested, contributing to the risk of cancer, respiratory issues, and inflammatory bowel disease. They can be inhaled—even when simply opening a plastic food storage container—or ingested (think eating vegetables chopped on a plastic cutting board). Don’t forget the black plastic spatula that literally leaches toxic chemicals (including flame retardants) into food when exposed to heat. According to Dodson, microplastics in food storage containers can get into food, especially when you use them to store acidic food or heat them in the microwave.
How to (realistically) make your home safer
Deep breaths: No matter the chemical, Fenton, the professor at North Carolina State University, says the poison is in the dose. In other words, your risk ultimately depends on the type of exposure. “If you’re exposed to something every day at high amounts, it’ll affect you differently than something you’re exposed to once a month or even once a week for a short burst of time,” she says. For example, if you cook multiple times a day on a nonstick pan or you’re a house cleaner exposed to strong, toxic chemicals, then your risk for health effects would be higher than if you use one or the other on occasion. Whatever your risk, if you make a few considered changes, you can lower your exposure to it.
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