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Keep it Free of Dangerous Chemicals
How Chemicals Can Affect Your Health
If you breathe, swallow, or touch chemicals, they can:
- Cause dizziness, headaches, fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs
- Burn the skin
- Damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and nervous system
- Cause cancer in various parts of the body
- Lead to convulsions, coma and death
How to Know if You Have a Problem
Chemicals might pose a danger in your home if:
- Your household products contain strong fragrances and harsh chemicals, with labels that say Caution, Warning, Danger, or Poison (Danger and Poison are the most dangerous).
- People smoke in and around your home.
- You have peeling, flaking, or chalking paint in a home built before 1978 that may contain lead.
How to Fix the Problem
- Use the safest possible household products, including homemade “green” products with ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, liquid castile soap and salt.
- Read product warning labels carefully, and follow directions for use, storage, and disposal.
- Keep chemicals in their original containers, and never remove labels.
- Keep dangerous household chemicals out of children’s reach.
- Do not use air fresheners or other products with fragrances or aerosol sprays.
- Post the phone number for the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) near every phone and program the number into cell phones.
- Do not allow smoking in or around your home.
- If your home was built before 1978, have it tested for lead paint.
- Test for radon, and install systems to remove it if necessary.
For more Information:
Norwalk Health Department - Lead Poisoning Prevention
CT Department of Public Health - Asbestos Program
CT Department of Public Health - Radon Program
CT Department of Public Health - Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Program
CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection - Household Alternatives for Reducing Toxic Products in the Home