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Hazardous Indoor Air

Most people know that breathing dirty air is bad for their health. But who would have guessed that some of the biggest cancer threats come from indoor air pollution?

A study of teenagers living in New York and Los Angeles found that indoor air pollutants were responsible for up to 50 percent of the teens’ pollution-linked cancer risk – and most of that came from just two sources. Formaldehyde (emitted from particleboard cabinets, shelving and other-pressed wood furniture) and a chemical called 1,4-dichlorobenzene (found in solid deodorizers, such as those used in toilet bowls), posed the bulk of the teens’ cancer risk.

The study showed that the risk posed by these toxins was akin to that of breathing in second-hand smoke, which can cause lung cancer. Most of the 19 chemicals the teens were exposed to by breathing indoor air exceeded acceptable exposure limits for air pollutants.

Particleboard is used to make many kinds of low-cost furniture and shelving. However, it’s possible to find furniture made with real wood that does not contain particleboard. Always ask before buying.

The researchers believe the other pollutants came from solid toilet bowl deodorizers. Natural toilet bowl cleaners that don’t use this chemical are available in grocery stores.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org