Health experts uncover 5 hazardous household products we need to get rid of right away

Health experts advise people to avoid using some of the most common household products that are used in almost every Indian homes. These products contain chemicals that may lead to serious health concerns such as cancer, hormone imbalances, breathing problems and more.

Even though some household products are labelled as safe, eco-friendly, all-natural, or unscented, could have harmful chemicals that might have hazardous consequences on our health.

5 household products we must avoid using at homes

Air fresheners

Lots of these products have things called "volatile organic compounds" or VOCs in them. These VOCs include chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylenes. These chemicals have been connected to different types of cancer, migraine headaches, asthma attacks, trouble breathing, and issues with the brain and nerves.

Oven cleaners

Most oven cleaners have something called "lye" in them, which can be really harmful. Lye is made of either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. It's so strong that it can burn your skin and eyes. If you swallow it, it can even be deadly and cause serious harm to your body tissues. Try using natural products like lemon, baking soda and white vinegar to clean your oven.

Hand sanitizers

After the pandemic, hand sanitizers are everywhere. But most of them have a lot of alcohol, usually at least 60%. This is much more alcohol than you'd find in strong drinks. So, if kids accidentally swallow even a little hand sanitizer, it could make them sick and suffer from alcohol poisoning.

Mothballs or naphthalenes

Mothballs contain a toxic chemical, either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These gases are irritating to the eyes and lungs and can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Bleach

Liquid chlorine bleach and the fumes it makes can make your skin, eyes, nose, and throat feel uncomfortable. If it touches your skin, it can cause skin problems. If you swallow it, it can seriously hurt your throat and stomach, and you might feel sick with nausea and vomiting for a long time.

However, experts also advise against mixing products or even pouring one product into another product’s container, to avoid creating volatile or dangerous combinations.

Also watch: Food packaging contains toxic chemicals that may increase the risk of cancer: Study