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Summary
The products you use for cleaning, carpentry, auto repair, gardening, and many other household uses can contain ingredients that can harm you, your family, and the environment. These include :
- Oven and drain cleaners
- Cleaning and disinfecting products, including bleach and antibacterial cleaners
- Laundry powder
- Floor polish
- Paint thinners, strippers, and removers
- Pesticides
- Grease and rust removers
- Motor oil and fuel additives
- Arts and craft supplies
Toxic substances in these products can cause harm if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. People respond to toxic substances in different ways. At high doses, a toxic substance might cause birth defects or other serious problems, including brain damage or death.
To avoid problems, keep products in the containers they come in and use them exactly as the label says. Follow label directions or get medical help if you swallow or inhale them or get them on your skin.
Environmental Protection Agency
Diagnosis and Tests
- Poisoning: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Household Hazards to Pets (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Read the Label First! Protect Your Household (Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF
Related Issues
- Chemical Emergency Preparedness (American Red Cross)
- Poison-Proof Your Home One Room at a Time: Pesticide Poison Prevention Checklist (Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Recalls (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- SaferProducts.gov (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Specifics
- What You Should Know about Using Paint Strippers (Consumer Product Safety Commission) - PDF
Statistics and Research
- Poisonings Among Children Ages 0-14 in 2018 (Safe Kids Worldwide)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Pharmaceuticals and personal care products contamination in the rivers of Chennai...
- Article: Traditional Eye Cosmetics and Cultural Powders as a Source of Lead...
- Article: Formulating Sustainable Emulsions: Mandelic Acid and Essential Oils as Natural Preservatives.
- Household Products -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Environmental Protection Agency Also in Spanish
- Find a Poison Center (Health Resources and Services Administration) Also in Spanish
-
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Also in Spanish
Women
- Using Household Chemicals during Pregnancy (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish