The Household Toxics Tour
Added and Adapted from:
Gary A. Davis and Em Turner
University of Tennessee - Knoxville Waste Management Institute
The Problem: Sick of Dust Report ... Scroll Down To Find Out What is Poisoning Your Home
The Solution: Available Cleaning / Household Products ... Instructions for Preparing Safe Cleaning Products Yourself ... Non-toxic, Healthy Personal Care Products
Identified toxic substances in your home:
In the Kitchen
Specific Danger for Birds - but recommendation to minimize exposure for all living beings:
- Self-cleaning ovens: Do not run the self-cleaning cycle on ovens when birds are around. Self-cleaning ovens are lined with PTFE (Teflon) and reach 900 degrees Fahrenheit during the self-cleaning cycle and emit gasses into the air that kill birds rather quickly.
- Teflon: Overheated teflon is toxic to birds. It is best not to use teflon cookware around your birds.
Toxic cleaning products: All-purpose cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, brass or other metal polishes, dishwater detergent, disinfectant, drain cleaner, floor wax or polish, glass cleaner, dishwashing detergent, oven cleaner, and scouring powder contain dangerous chemicals.
- Please refer to Non-toxic Household Products.
In the Utility Closet
A number of products are likely to contain toxic ingredients:
- carpet cleaner, room deodorizer, laundry softener, laundry detergent, anti-cling sheets, mold and mildew cleaner, mothballs, and spot remover all usually contain irritant or toxic substances.
In the Living Room and Bedroom
Even the furnishings of the typical American home can be harmful.
- Substances such as Scotchguard and other stain repellants, new carpets and furniture, and dryer sheets/fabric softeners continue to release toxic fumes into the environment for months after they have been applied.
Scotchgard is made from a chemical that breaks down into PFOS. "PFOS is of significant concern on the basis of evidence of widespread human exposure and indications of toxicity. ... These chemicals 'combine persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity properties to an extraordinary degree.' " (EPA internal memorandum, May 16, 2000)
- Fabrics that are labeled "wrinkle-resistant" are usually treated with a formaldehyde resin. These include no-iron sheets and bedding, curtains, sleep wear -- any woven fabric, but especially polyester / cotton blends, marketed as "permanent press" or "easy care."
- Modern furniture is made of pressed wood products emits formaldehyde and other chemicals.
- Carpeting is usually made of synthetic fibers that have been treated with pesticides and fungicide. Many office carpets emit a chemical called 4-phenylcyclohexene, an inadvertent additive to the latex backing used in more commercial and home carpets, which is thought to be one of the chemicals responsible for "sick" office buildings.
- Incense contains: charcoal, starch, karaya gum, clay, aromatic chemicals and essential oils. Chemicals, obviously, but even essential oils have the potential for causing toxicity in birds. However, I have been using a nebulizer situated next to me with Lemon Essential Oil, Lavender, Patchouli, Peppermint and some other Essential oils being dispersed into the air -- with my lovebird right on my shoulder. This being said, I am being sensitive about it. I never use incense -- only organic essential oils and only when I need a "lift" (lemon oil helps me when I feel tired or can't concentrate) - the other scents I chose because of specific health-conducive properties that I personally benefit from for a short time, or I run the nebulizer if I feel like dispersing a fragrant scent through the living area. I place the nebulizer as far from my birds as possible -- and they are doing wonderfully, and the living area smells beautifully. Far better than any commercially available deodorizer. The Essential Oil page will provide you information that would help you assess which Essential oils would be helpful for you and your family.
In the Bath
Numerous cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain hazardous substances.
- Please refer to Non-toxic Household Products.
In the Studio or Hobby Room
Although legislation controlling many of the dangerous ingredients in hobby materials has recently been passed, exposure to certain art materials remains a health risk. Dangerous chemicals and metals include:
- lead in ceramic glazes, stained-glass materials, and many pigments; cadmium in silver solders, pigments, ceramic glazes and fluxes; chromium in paint pigments and ceramic colores; manganese dioxide in ceramic colors and some brown oil and acrylic paint pigments; cobalt in some blue oil and acrylic paint pigments; formaldehyde as a preservation in many acrylic paints and photographic products; aromatic hydrocarbons in paint and varnish removers, aerosol sprays, permanent markers, etc.; chlorinated hydrocarbons (solvents) in ink, varnish, and paint removers, rubber cement, aerosol sprays; petroleum distillates (solvents) in paint and rubber cement thinners, spray adhesives, silk-screen inks; glycol ethers and acetates in photography products, lacquer thinners, paints, and aerosol sprays.
In the Garage
A number of dangerous substances are frequently present, including paint, paint thinner, benzene, kerosene, mineral spirits, turpentine, lubricating/motor oils, and gasoline.
In the Garden Shed
Pesticides, one of the most important single hazards in the home. Around 1,400 pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are ingredients in consumer products. Combined with other toxic substances such as solvents, pesticides are present in more than 34,000 different product formulations. (For non-toxic ways to control pests in the house or garden, please visit this webpage.)
On the Patio
- Charcoal lighter fluid contains petroleum distillates. Besides being flammable and imparting a chemical taste to food, some petroleum distillates contain benzene, a known human carcinogen
- Citronella Oil: Citronella oil is a volatile oil that contains approximately 30% citronellal and 40% geraniol. Its fumes are potentially toxic to birds. Even though I know of no reports of toxicities from citronella in the avian species, I would not feel comfortable using it around my birds. Please note: Citronella Oil is often used in combination with other essential oils in air fresheners.
Source / Ref.: http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/safe-fs.html
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