Household Chemical Dangers
Reported November 24, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Household products used on a daily basis could cause chemical exposure thats hazardous to your health.
According to a new study, common products like cleaners, beauty products, food packaging and electronics used in homes are a significant source of personal chemical exposure that accumulates over time. Researchers found while consumers were aware of risks posed by bisphenol A in some plastic bottles and lead in some toys, they were unaware of — and often had difficulty understanding — how dangerous levels of chemical contamination were caused by household products.
When study participants were informed of the chemical contamination, they were not alarmed, but rather eager to know more information about their daily chemical exposure.
This research illustrates how science is beginning to play a paramount role in discovering and redefining environmental problems that are not immediately perceptible through direct experience, Rebecca Gasior Altman, a sociologist at Brown University and lead author of the study, was quoted as saying. Pollution at home has been a blind spot for society.
SOURCE: The Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2008