Toxins: Are you aware of the many ways you are being poisoned everyday in your own home?

Warning - many of your common household products contain toxic chemicals!

We have been hearing a lot about Toxins; toxins in the home, the work place, the environment, and our food.

Unfortunately, many people think that if something is on the "shelf", it is safe to use. After all the government would not allow a manufacturing company to harm us by marketing a shampoo that has harmful chemicals in it or a baby lotion that causes a rash, or a toothpaste that if swallowed could poison an individual.

Would they?

We must realize the "government" has no control over personal care products. It has no control over the household cleaners, or the chemicals that are used in the furniture or anything we use on a daily basis. Until someone dies, or someone "sues" a company, nothing can really be done.

This is where we as an individual come into the picture. (After all, who IS the government?) WE must take responsibility for what we use, what we eat, what we drink, what we wear, etc, etc.

But, because we are becoming more aware of what we really want to use and the food we really want to put into our bodies, more and more companies are also becoming aware of the consumer market and are marketing "safe" products.

But beware of marketing. Look before you leap and read the labels. The 5 minutes you spend now can pay off in years of better health.

Many people have used certain cleaning products such as "bleach" forever. After all, isn't that what grandma used or mom used? And some people still believe that it is the only thing that will disinfect. So it burns your skin, your eyes, your nose, and can kill you if you happen to mix it with another cleaner, but, gee whiz, habits are hard to change.

I am here to tell you, you need to start changing your habits. Your children are ADD, and you may well be too, people are dying of cancer and wonder why, you can't lose weight because you have so many chemical calories in your system, your system is shutting down. Everything you eat, you drink, you breathe, is filtered by the bodies organs; think, LIVER!!!

I would say this is just my opinion, but if you are aware at all, you know it is not just MY opinion. Have you looked at Mother Nature lately? Do you think she is as happy as she used to be before so many companies started thinking about just money?

There is a solution and you can be part of the solution or part of the problem. If you will just change from one toxic product to a safer, cleaner, personal care product, garden spray or window cleaner. A baby step at a time is what it takes. You can do it.

What follows is a list of toxic household products from the Environmental Protection agency. (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Common household toxins and the products they're found in:)

- Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) - Lung and eye irritant. If mixed with ammonia or acid-based cleaners (including vinegar), releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems.

- Bisphenol A (BPA) - an additive in platics (such as water bottles) - raises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems such as hyperactivity. Bisphenol A is especially dangerous to developing children even as they are in the mother's womb.

- Petroleum distillates (metal polishes) - Short-term exposure can cause temporary eye clouding; longer exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys, and eyes.

- Ammonia (glass cleaner) - Eye irritant, can cause headaches and lung irritation. If mixed with chorine, releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems.

- Phenol and cresol (disinfectants) - Corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage.

- Nitrobenzene (furniture and floor polishes) - Can cause shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects.

- Formaldehyde, (a preservative in many household products) - Suspected human carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin, and lungs.

- Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (Spot removers & carpet cleaners) - Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; perchloroethylene is an animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen.

- Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (mothballs) - Naphthalene is a suspected human carcinogen that may damage eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system; paradichlorobenzene can harm the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.

- Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate (toilet bowl cleaners) - Either can burn the skin or cause vomiting diarrhea and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if inadvertently splashed in the eyes.

- Formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol (spray starch) - Any aerosolized particle, including cornstarch, may irritate the lungs.

Each year, over 1 million children are accidentally poisoned in their homes. More than 250,000 of these victims are hospitalized. 3,000 children will end up in intensive care. Thousands of children and adults are permanently disfigured through contact with chemicals in the home. The most common poison is a household cleaner even though many are considered safe.

Cancer in smokers is a result of daily exposure to trace amounts of carcinogens in cigarettes. People exposed daily to low levels of carcinogens in cleaning products face similar risks.

Chemicals in household products also put the user at risk for nervous system, kidney & liver damage and asthma.

Children are especially vulnerable to chemical fumes. They are closer to floor, crawl on the floor, put blankets over heads.

There are companies that manufacture safer products for your home which are free from ammonia, phenol, chlorine, petroleum distillates, synthetic solvents, and other dangerous ingredients.

Isn't it time you took the time to discover the poisons in your own home. Think about it!