Indoor Trigger Check List

There are plenty of allergens and irritants lurking inside your home that can make you and your family miserable. Sometimes it's obvious what's causing you to sneeze and wheeze, while other times it takes some sleuthing. Below are some of the possible culprits; you may be allergic to one or more of them.

  • Dust Mites
  • Mold
  • Secondhand Smoke
  • Cockroaches
  • Pets
  • Pesticides
  • othballs
  • Air Fresheners
  • Potpourri
  • Herbs
  • Cleaning Products
  • Garden Chemicals
  • Carpet and Carpet Padding
  • Cosmetics
  • Deodorant
  • Aerosol Sprays
  • Soap
  • Hair Products
  • Fabric Softener
  • Detergent
  • Paint
  • Glue
  • Fireplaces
  • Wood Burning Stoves
  • Gasoline
  • Petroleum Vapors

CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

The US has seen a worrisome increase in certain childhood diseases, and researchers are working hard to determine whether this increase is linked to environmental exposures.

·         As noted, childhood asthma has increased by more than 40% since 1980, affecting more than 4.2 million children under the age of 18 nationwide.

·         The incidence of two types of childhood cancers has risen significantly over the past 15 years: acute lymphocytic leukemia is up 10% and brain tumors are up more than 30%.

·         Although there are no registries for learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders among children, there has been growing attention in recent years to an apparent increase in both.

·         In 1997, President Clinton issued an Executive Order addressing protection
of children from environmental health risks.

·         The Food Quality Protection Act
of 1996 and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 both require consideration of infants and children in risk assessments used to determine acceptable levels of environmental contaminants in food and drinking water.

·         In 1996, Administrator Browner issued a report entitled Environmental Health Threats to Children and set a Children’s Agenda for EPA, calling for consideration of children’s risks in all Agency actions and a greater emphasis on research to support children’s risk assessments." (Children's Vulnerability To Toxic Substances In The Environment Science to Achieve Results Program: 1999 Research Grants National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance/ US EPA.)

A child's system is continually developing. The ratio of child intake rate to child body size is greater than that for adults for some routes, including the skin.


 

Potentially Dangerous Household Products 

Some of the substances listed below are given their commonly used names rather than their scientific names.

Note: This is Not the entire list of potentially toxic products. If in doubt, contact
the Poison Control Center immediately. 
Cleaning, Bleaching Agents

Aerosols
Alcohol
Ammonia
Amyl acetate
Bathroom bowl cleaner
Cleaning fluids
Copper and brass cleaner
Detergents
Drain cleaners
Dry-cleaning fluids
Gun cleaners
Kerosene
Lighter fluid
Metal cleaners and polishers
Naphtha
Oven cleaner
Oxalic acid
Turpentine
Window washing fluid

Polishers and Waxes

Car wax
Furniture wax/polish
Kerosene
Mineral oil
Nail polish
Paint
Pine oil
Silver polish
Turpentine

Cosmetic Preparations

After shave
Bubble bath products
Cologne
Corn and wart remover
Cuticle removers
Dandruff shampoo
Eye shadow
Hair dyes/tints
Hair lotions
Hair remover
Hair sprays
Nail polish
Nail polish removers
Perfume
Permanent-wave solution
Shaving lotions/creams
Skin preparations
Tanning lotions

 Drugs and Medicines

Antiseptics
Children's fever drops
Cold medications
Contraceptive pills
Corn and wart remover
Cough medicines
Home chemical testing agents
Iodine
Iron medicines
Laxatives
Narcotics
Pain killers/relievers
Rubbing alcohol
Tranquilizers
(Most of the items in this category are only poisonous when taken orally by accident or in excess.)

Miscellaneous Household Products and Chemicals

Anti-rust products
Antifreeze
Deodorizing tablets
Epoxy glue
Fire extinguishing fluids
Garden sprays
Gasoline
Herbicides
Insecticides
Jewelry cleaners and cements
Laundry bluing
Leather polishes and dyes
Model cement
Pesticides
Rug adhesive
Shoe cleaner and polishes

Solvents
Grease spot remover
Kerosene
Lacquer remover
Lighter fluid
Nail polish remover
Paint remover
Paint thinner
Turpentine
Wax remover

When calling the Poison Control Center, have available the name of the product, amount taken, and the time of the incident

 
 
 

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Enviroment Approach