Is your home, its paint, its materials and finishes poisoning you?
The cold hard truth is that many of the building materials and finishes within our homes are toxic and are responsible for allergies, maladies and even serious illnesses…
Building materials
Many materials utilised in home construction have toxic chemicals in their manufacture and often in the materials themselves, these substances can impact on human health and general wellbeing.
If you are renovating your home or designing a new house, then ensure that you avoid or minimise the use of potentially toxic materials. Specify natural elements in preference to synthetic equivalents especially for the interior components. Use water or natural oil based paints and applied finishes that contain little or no VOC (volatile organo compounds, which are known carcinogens). Whilst most paints contain these, there are a number of paints on the market that have very low VOC content. One locally produced brand (no names!) has no VOC’s at all and is the only one satisfying the Asthma Foundations rigorous standards.
With these “healthy” paints, there is little if any smell straight after painting. Remember what a painted house used to smell like – that smell is harmful to your family for years after. Use also paints with natural pigments, drying agents and preservatives and use only non-toxic clear finishes on flooring.
Paints aren’t the only products that off gas. Finishes and adhesives also contain VOC’s and other toxic substances such as formaldehyde and benzene. Older style particleboards are notoriously toxic so you should specify low toxicity composite boards for your cupboards and cabinets as these are now freely available. Check all other uses of composite boards (MDF), fibre cement and plywood for their toxicity ratings
Avoid CCA (copper chrome arsenate – yes arsenate is arsenic) treated timber in your yard and particularly near your vegie patch. For years we have been putting poisonous timber in and around our gardens. Use LOSP’s (light organic solvent preservative) and similar low toxicity treatments or even good old untreated recycled hardwood which is durable out in the weather.
Carpets are another source of poor indoor air quality in your home. Use those made from natural materials such as wool and plant fibres and those that specify inert (low off gassing) glues. In preference to carpets, which are also a haven for dust mites, polish or tile your floors and use washable rugs where needed. Replace your vinyl floor covers with linoleum, a natural rubber based product and use HDPE (high density polyethylene) in preference to PVC plumbing and electrical uses.
If you have an older house watch out for fibrous cement sheeting, it could be made of asbestos which has claimed the lives of many including my Dad. If you are uncertain get your builder or a qualified person to check it out before you touch it. Avoid drilling, sanding or disturbing asbestos cement sheeting in any way.
If you buy a product or furniture and it smells then it is probably toxic. Leave it outside in the open air for as long as you can before bringing it into your home so that the initial off gassing does not leave residue inside your home.
When selecting materials and items check the toxicity credentials of the supplier. Most products come with a Material Data Sheet which lists the constituents and chose the healthy options – make your house a low toxicity home and enjoy a healthy life for you and your family!
