How Much Do You Know About Hazardous Materials in Your Home?

Most people know that toilet bowl cleaners contain toxic chemicals, but alcoholic beverages and cigarettes have them, too. Cigarettes contain nicotine and a host of chemicals that are carcinogenic. Of course, it takes a lot more alcohol or cigarettes to reach toxic quantities than it does toilet bowl cleaner. But even small amounts of these can be toxic to babies. Other hazardous chemicals in the home include furniture polish, window cleaners, and air fresheners; laundry products and automatic dishwashing detergents; hairspray and fingernail polish; paint; varnish; batteries; inks; pesticides; and aerosols. Medications and vitamins are also hazardous if not used as directed. If children are in the home, medications and vitamins should be stored in childproof containers.

The label will tell you the proper way to use the cleaner and what precautions, if any, to take. Those precautions may include wearing rubber gloves or keeping a window open.

Some products, such as bleach and ammonia, also produce toxic fumes if combined with other cleaning products.

This means the product does not contain hazardous chemicals. Signal words include danger, warning, and caution. Try to avoid buying products with Danger or Poison on the label. These are the most toxic. Other possible signal words include Irritant and Caustic. If you have purchased a product and can't tell from the ingredients or labeling whether it is poisonous, call the manufacturer's phone number on the label. When you call the manufacturer, request a Material Safety Data Sheet for the product. This will list all hazardous ingredients, and may provide some health and safety information.

Use all of it up before buying more. For frequently used hazardous chemicals like household cleansers, go for the best bargain but store them safely.

Make sure the container also has its label, to identify what's inside. NEVER store hazardous chemicals in a food or beverage container. If the original container is leaking, use a replacement container, but make sure it is CLEARLY labeled. Even with labels, all hazardous chemicals should be stored away from children.

See your doctor or health care provider immediately if you think you have been poisoned or injured by exposure to a household chemical. To find the poison control center nearest you, visit www.aapcc.org or call 800-222-1222.

Many hazardous chemicals should ONLY be disposed of through a hazardous waste processing site. Municipalities often sponsor hazardous waste collection days, during which residents can bring their household hazardous waste for disposal.