Protecting Your Family From Toxic Chemicals

Tracey Woodruff is Director, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) at UC San Francisco. Her research interests are to advance scientific inquiry, professional training, public education, and health policies that reduce the impacts of environmental contaminants on reproductive and developmental health.  She holds a master’s in public health and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from U.C. Berkeley.  Dr. Woodruff has talked extensively about reproductive environmental health.  She also gives some great tips on how to keep your home free from toxics especially when children are in the home.

Here are some recommendations from the PRHE.

Avoid home products that release toxic chemicals:
Many paints, glues and flooring materials release toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) long after you complete a project. Ask for VOC-free and water-based products.

Mop and dust often:
Toxic substances like lead, pesticides, and flame retardants are present in household dust. Use a wet mop or wet cloth to regularly clean floors and flat surfaces.

Clean with nontoxic products:
It is easy and cheap to make effective, non-toxic cleaners with common ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.

Remove your shoes inside:
Outdoor shoes can carry toxic chemicals into your home.

Don’t dry-clean your clothes:
Many dry cleaners use toxic chemicals. Hand-wash delicate clothes or ask your dry cleaner to use water instead of chemicals. 

Avoid pesticides and herbicides:
Toxic chemicals used to kill insects, rodents, weeds, bacteria, mold and other noxious animals and plants can also harm your health. 

Select flame-retardant-free foam products:
Crib mattresses, nap mats, and other upholstered products can contain flame-retardants, which can harm health and affect a child’s brain. Instead, select foam products labeled as “flame-retardant-free” or tagged as compliant with TB-117-2013.

Avoid toxics in your food and water:
Whenever possible, eat organic food to reduce your exposure to pesticides. If you can’t buy organic produce, choose the fruits and vegetables with the least pesticide residue and avoid the most contaminated ones. 

Limit foods high in animal fat:
Many toxic substances build up in animal fat.

Use less plastic:
Choose glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers for food. Don’t use plastic containers for hot foods or drinks and use glass instead of plastic in the microwave, because heat makes plastic release chemicals.

Avoid lead exposure:
Any home built before 1978 may have lead paint. There may also be lead in household dust and garden soil.

Keep mercury out of your diet, home and garbage:
Eat fish with lower levels of mercury. Replace your mercury thermometer with a digital one. Don’t throw items containing mercury (such as old thermometers or compact fluorescent bulbs) in the trash. 

Avoid canned foods and beverages:
Eat fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. This limits your exposure to BPA, a toxic substance used in the lining of most cans.