(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Household products used on a daily basis could
cause chemical exposure that’s hazardous to your health.
According to a new study, common products like cleaners, beauty products,
food packaging and electronics used in homes are a significant source of
personal chemical exposure that accumulates over time. Researchers found
while consumers were aware of risks posed by bisphenol A in some plastic
bottles and lead in some toys, they were unaware of -- and often had
difficulty understanding -- how dangerous levels of chemical contamination
were caused by household products.
When study participants were informed of the chemical contamination, they
were not alarmed, but rather eager to know more information about their
daily chemical exposure.
“This research illustrates how science is beginning to play a paramount role
in discovering and redefining environmental problems that are not
immediately perceptible through direct experience,” Rebecca Gasior Altman, a
sociologist at Brown University and lead author of the study, was quoted as
saying. “Pollution at home has been a blind spot for society.”
SOURCE: The Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2008