Potential Home Hazards: The Silent Killers Living With You

They’re everywhere: hidden elements lurking behind the crevices of your home, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike and cause chaos in your family. Unfortunately, these unwanted guests in our home have been there long enough, and some of them are probably there long before your homes have been built. Fortunately, there still are things you can do to prevent these hazards from threatening your peaceful domicile and family. Learn more about the hazards that can threaten your family and your home.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Found in many plastic products like water bottles, infant feeding bottles, plastic food wraps, and other kitchen products with plastic materials, Bisphenol A is a chemical used in the production of plastic materials to make plastic much harder and less prone to changes due to heat. Unfortunately, we accumulate BPA in our bodies by consuming food items stored in containers made with BPA. While the clear and present dangers of BPA are yet to be found, several studies claimed that frequent exposure to BPA-contaminated food items can lead to brain damage, especially to infants and fetuses.

What to do: Instead of using items made with BPA, opt for kitchen and dining materials made with glass and stainless steel. Your food is less prone to chemical contamination with these materials, and as simple as exposure to heat can contaminate the food with chemicals other than BPA.

Mold and humidity

In a tropical country like the Philippines, we are constantly exposed to rains and typhoons. Aside from the frequent rains, the humidity in the air is also one of the main reason why have mold and mildew problems. Dampness of the surroundings contribute greatly to poor air inside out homes; couple that with poor air circulation and it’s a surefire hit that can cause respiratory problems like throat and nose irritation, allergic rhinitis, shortness of breath, and worse, respiratory infection.

What to do: To eliminate mold, mildew, and other problems caused by humidity, the first thing you need to do is find the damp spots in your home. Usually areas with high moisture rate are where you can find mold accumulation. Once you’ve fixed them, try to fix your home’s ventilation so humid air won’t circulate in your home. If your budget permits, purchase a dehumidifier.

Pests

Pests are more than just flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. Unfortunately, there are many pests that are hidden in your home, and they are tucked in every nook and cranny of your home, nesting and multiplying until the most opportune time to strike arrives. Termites, bed bugs, and other crawlers that can cause health and environmental problems. Aside from numerous health problems that can put you and your family at risk, they can also start problems outside your home and spread to the community, risking a possibility of an outbreak in your area.

What to do: If simple pesticides cannot solve your problems, you may already need the help of professional pest control companies to solve your infestation problems. Pest control may be a bit costly, but it gets the job done with one treatment. Once resolved, regular maintenance of your home and checkup of possible places where breeding and infestation can occur will help you eliminate your problem once and for all.

Unwanted gases

You think you’re merely inhaling oxygen in your home, but more often than not, there are traces of gases and other elements that can do you more harm than good. The culprit? Almost everything: furniture pieces, cleaning products, construction materials, glues, and others treated with chemicals emit gases that when inhaled, can cause several respiratory problems that include lung cancer. Furthermore, older structures may still have traces of asbestos present during the construction and cause asbestosis, which can scar the lungs and make respiratory functions harder.

What to do: When buying items for your home, be sure to check the labels first to see if there are compounds that are known to emit harmful substances in the air. If you find that you are currently using these items, discontinue use immediately and switch to safer and health-friendlier home products. Meanwhile, get a professional whenever you need to do home renovation to make sure there will be no traces of compounds left after the process.

Your house may also be home to several things that can put you and your health at risk. However, keep in mind that by becoming more vigilant when it comes to purchasing and handling your home items, especially the ones with known health risks. Remember, it is better to be safe than to save money and pay the price later with your health.