16/05/2022
In honor of May being National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, I thought I would share the following about chemicals that contribute to poor indoor air quality:
* A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in 2017 found that the regular use of household cleaning products could be as detrimental as smoking a pack of ci******es daily for 20 years.
* The American Lung Association recommends buying products that do not contain VOCs, fragrances, irritants, or flammable ingredients. They also recommend avoiding use of all air fresheners:
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/indoor-air-pollutants/cleaning-supplies-household-chem?inf_contact_key=6f2ec6704ac4335b83359f3f8649a43f680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1
* When I started paying attention years ago, I was amazed at how many of my products contained the word "fragrance" listed as an ingredient (check yours!). Among other things, fragrances contribute to hormone disruption and reproductive problems, which is a growing concern today. It can be hard, but think twice before buying many brands of perfumes, colognes, lotions, candles, etc that contain it.
It's been a long and hard year, and many of us are looking forward to the festivities and traditions of the holiday season. Although Covid-19 restrictions make it difficult for many to celebrate in person with their loved ones, holiday gift-giving will remain in force.
