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Dangerous Home Products

They say that home is where the heart is, but unfortunately, it's also where everyday products pose health dangers to you and your family. More than 33 million people are injured by common consumer products each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which oversaw 563 recalls of 60.8 million individual consumer products in 2008. (Make sure your home is safe by checking Recalls.gov.) And those are just the documented hazards. What may be the hidden ones?

Dangerous Home Products

A preliminary new study from Sweden suggests that children who live in homes with vinyl flooring are more likely to have autism. The plastics used to make vinyl flooring can emit chemicals called phthalates, previously shown to contribute to allergies and asthma, and now suspected of playing a role in the development of autism. The study found that infants and toddlers who had vinyl bedroom floors (common in Sweden) were twice as likely to be autistic five years later than kids with wood floors. Scientists are still not sure which biological and environmental factors cause autism, which is dramatically on the rise, and urged further research.

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Flame retardants used on upholstered furniture, mattresses and electronic equipment have undoubtedly saved many lives, but there is a trade off. The chemical ingredient decabrominated diphenyl ether, or Deca-BDE, is a possible human carcinogen. Oregon's state legislature is currently considering legislation that would ban the fire retardant. Washington and Maine are already phasing it out.

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Between the adhesives, stain protectors, flame retardants, and the chemical behind that mysterious and distinctive "new carpet smell," carpeting combines a lot of potentially unhealthy elements. Since 1988, the CPSC has received more than 500 complaints about new carpeting. The most common symptoms included burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, rashes, and fatigue. In more extreme cases, people reported vomiting, ear infection, and blisters on the throat. Listen to the experts and let the carpet air out for a few days in a well-ventilated area and everyone will breathe easier. Or just stick to hardwood.

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The slinky little dryer sheets that keep clothes fresh are chock full of chemicals, including scary-sounding ingredients like propyl butyrate and alpha-pinene. Industry representatives says the exposure levels are too low to impact people but we think better safe than sorry. If only for peace of mind, try a few drops of essential oil on a washcloth instead.

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It's no surprise that fireworks rank among the most hazardous consumer products. What is surprising is that, among the many varieties of fireworks, sparklers cause the most injuries -- more than 1,000 a year. Experts say that hospital visits for fireworks-related injuries jumped over the last ten years. In 2007, fireworks resulted in almost 10,000 ER visits and 11 deaths.

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In Consumer Product Safety Commission tests, some pool alarms -- devices that make noise when something, or someone, falls into the pool -- failed to activate when a weight simulating a small child was pushed into a residential pool. Others took up to 25 seconds to sound the alarm. About 350 children under five years of age drown in swimming pools each year, and another 2,600 go to the ER.

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Every year, people die after being trapped under tipped-over kitchen ranges. The majority of victims are young children, but almost half of the time, it's elderly adults who are injured. In 2006 alone, emergency rooms treated 42,700 injuries caused by appliance, furniture, and television tip-overs.

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Nonstick and stain-resistant coatings, used on everything from your favorite omelette pan to your suede sofa, include chemicals called PFAs. Though their toxicity in humans is still unclear, in animals, PFAs cause birth defects, thyroid hormone abnormalities, and liver damage. A safer alternative? Consider enamel-coated cast iron, glassware, and stoneware for your cooking and baking needs.

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Figuring out whether plastic containers are safe can make your head spin. It's been shown that after repeated reheating, polycarbonate, a chemical seen in many plastic storage products, can leak BPA, the dangerous hormone disruptor. Your best bet? When reheating food, make the extra effort and place it in microwave-safe dishware. As the old adage goes, better safe than sorry.

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Every year, more than 200,000 people are treated for toy-related injuries in American emergency rooms. The most common cause of those injuries to kids under 15 are riding toys, like tricycles, big wheels, and non-motorized scooters. Keep in mind that little ones need more than training wheels to stay safe.

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JPage806 10:32:28 AM Apr 11 2009

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i don't know about this world today.i'am 74, i have (i guess)lived in just about any home, growing up, had a number of different flooring,i put down what i like, eat what i like do just about any thing i want to do, and i'am on no meds , and by the way, i have smoked from the age of 13. so every one out there worry about whats new . and whats going to kill you tomorrow. lots of luck

Kathleen Debra 06:27:15 AM Apr 05 2009

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Yeah sounds like the old "bait and switch' routine. They should go directly to the source, like that one Drug Co in Pa. First, they give you meds for your arthritus, which in turn gives you a heart attack, if you live to tell about it. Then they try to deny it. They dump their TOXINS in the water and kill hundreds of fish and a few days later, tell you the water is safe. To top it all off, they want to give our 11 yr, old daughters immun. for something they shouldn't even be thinking about yet.I know people require certain drugs, but please don't make these people richer, wqho don't care if you live or die.

Kathleen Debra 06:18:28 AM Apr 05 2009

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I have to agree w/ Paul850, sounds like the old "bait and switch" routine. They should go directly to the source, like that One Drug Co in Pa. First they give you meds for artritus, that gives you a heart attack or worse. Then they dump their TOXINS in the water, killing hundreds of fish and within in days , tell everyone the water is fine. To top it all off they want to give our 11 yr, old daughters an immun. for something they shoudn't even be thinking about yet, oh and how many innocent little girls died from that. All of this is on the news out of Phila. This company is the one you need to watch your health about.

Kathleen Debra 06:17:14 AM Apr 05 2009

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Jarsd43 05:43:57 AM Apr 05 2009

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If you call the search for truth a goofball endeavor then you are destined to stay locked into the mistakes of your past. Everything should be considered. Autism is on the rise and we need to search every corner that could be causing it. Modern children almost all receive their immunization shots, could that be the cause and would we give them up if we knew that it did? The chemicals from vinyl flooring are not safe but how unsafe are they? We don't know and there is nothing wrong with questioning our environment.

Mrvnlimar 04:10:11 AM Apr 05 2009

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Pointless story, all theory and no proof. But the goofballs and idiots jump on it just the same. Go ahead, dum-dums, give us a truly inane and ignorant comment. I'm sure your fellow shit-for-brains compadres out there will reply with an equally brilliant word or two.

SACCASA 03:57:05 AM Apr 05 2009

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It`s the Glue in this case. I have to very carefull breathing household chemicals and refrain from using them as much as possible.

Screencharmer 03:50:02 AM Apr 05 2009

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You would think that people could leave leave comments withour putting everyday working people that do not make a rich living, and living from paycheck to paycheck that can't afford expensive floors down!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is what is wrong in this world today that our children can't get along withot haveing to fight their way thru life. Myprowler you ought to be ashame to put people down like that. That is not a very Christian thing to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cbert0482 03:10:38 AM Apr 05 2009

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this article is absolutely pointless - of course chemicals created for fire retardants, vinyl floors, and dryer sheets are gonna be harmful!! and how many people actually die a year from tipped over ranges in their kitchens???? idiots are a drain on our society as a whole (not just the US) and need to be naturally selected OUT. safe proofing our world to accommodate stupid people and prolonging their existance is highly counterproductive from an evolutionary standpoint. let them die if they're gonna use dryer sheets as deodorant or lick the carpet adhesive!!

Cbert0482 03:10:07 AM Apr 05 2009

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this article is absolutely pointless - of course chemicals created for fire retardants, vinyl floors, and dryer sheets are gonna be harmful!! and how many people actually die a year from tipped over ranges in their kitchens???? idiots and retards are a drain on our society as a whole (not just the US) and need to be naturally selected OUT. safe proofing our world to accommodate stupid people and prolonging their existance is highly counterproductive from an evolutionary standpoint. let them die if they're gonna use dryer sheets as deodorant or lick the carpet adhesive!!

1 - 10 of 240

240 comments