Painting the interior and exterior of our dwelling spaces has been an important factor in both looks and functionality. However, many worry about the possible toxicity of chemical emissions from paint. The following will discuss the health hazards of paint emissions and solutions to this problem.

Understanding Paint

When a person thinks of paint, they’re likely to think of the pigment in paint that gives it its color. However, there are many substances in paint that go unnoticed, and these are the agents that can cause potential harm to humans and even animals.

Paint consists of pigments, binding agents, solvents, and other additives. These agents remain in a liquid state until the paint is spread onto a surface, such as a wall, at which time they slowly evaporate, leaving behind just the pigment alone. While these agents are evaporating, paint smell and small amounts of the agents themselves can linger in the air. This problem can linger on until the paint completely dries and the area is allowed to air out, completely removing any lingering solvents from the surrounding air.

Potential Health Dangers

When a large room or an entire house is painted, larger amounts of paint fumes can be present in the air. This can cause extreme paint odor, which is usually the first noticeable sign that the chemicals are present in the air. Symptoms from exposure to these paint smell agents can be minor or severe, and their onset is often immediate upon exposure to the chemicals. The most common symptoms associated with exposure to the chemical components of paint fumes are headaches, nausea, fatigue, cough, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. The consequence of this exposure is likely to be greater in individuals who have impaired immunity, pre-existing lung conditions, or in very young children. Additionally, the dangers of long term exposure to these paint chemical compounds may be more severe in individuals who are exposed to paint smell regularly, such as those who paint for a living. In these cases, special care should be taken to protect such individuals against long term harm resulting from paint fumes.

The Best Protection

Since it is difficult to select paint that has lower VOC emissions due to a difficult testing process to prove safety, protective measures should be taken. Even during limited exposure to paint odor, individuals should open doors and windows to allow as much air to circulate as possible. Additionally, wearing paint masks over the nose and mouth while applying paint will provide a measure of protection against the inhalation of paint fumes. Fans can also be used to circulate more fresh air.

By following these procedures, it is possible to be around paint odor and paint fumes with minimal negative effects. Smelleze® Reusable Paint Deodorizer Pouches can also help to clean the air by absorbing harmful paint fumes and paint smells before they become a problem. This eco-friendly, non-toxic, and safe odor remover eliminates paint smell without masking with harmful fragrances and can be used over and over again.

When she’s not organizing parties, Louise Baker writes about online colleges at Zen College Life. She recently looked at where to get the best criminal justice degree.

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?

Multiple chemical sensitivity, also known as MCS, can best be described through a scenario. Let’s say that you get on the subway and sit next to someone that has a lovely smelling perfume or cologne on. Although it smells nice, it is also very strong and suddenly your eyes begin to water and you begin to sneeze uncontrollably. After getting off the subway, you pass a florist on the street that is spraying his flowers with pesticides. This also makes your eyes water and forces you to sneeze constantly. This is an example of what a person with MCS goes through. MCS is a world-wide health problem that is caused by our toxic environment. It is characterized by an extreme sensitivity to chemicals.

Symptoms of MCS

A person with MCS may have an immediate or delayed reaction to chemicals. Because there are so many symptoms associated with MCS, it is often misdiagnosed. Listed below are some of the symptoms that may occur after being exposed to chemicals.

1. Difficulty breathing
2. Neurological problems
3. Joint pain
4. Short-term memory loss
5. Visual changes
6. Dysfunctions of senses
7. Loss of smell
8. Sinus congestion
9. Burning eyes and throat
10. Nausea
11. Digestive problems
12. Fatigue
13. Numbness
14. Tingling
15. Convulsions
16. Irregular heart beat
17. Behavioral changes
18. Rhinitis

Challenges Associated with MCS

When you are living with MCS, it seems as if the world is out to get you. Even chemicals within your own home can upset your body and cause all or some of the above mentioned symptoms. Formaldehyde is a chemical that enters the air you breathe inside of your home from laminated furniture, carpet, plastic, insulation and adhesives. Other dangerous chemicals such as household cleaners, solvents, pesticides and lawn chemicals can also get into the air in your home. In order to remove these chemicals and breathe easy, it is recommended that someone with MCS have an air purifier to continually clean the air of harmful chemical contaminants and odor.

Many personal care products have synthetic chemicals in them that can onset symptoms that could affect your health long-term. To prevent these reactions, a person with MCS might use irritant free products.

Most people with MCS find that the food they ingest is another key source of chemical exposure. For many, switching to organic food makes a difference in their overall health. MCS sufferers should pay close attention to the food labels though. Many are not yet FDA approved. Make sure that your selection is organic and not just “all natural”. The organic food market has dramatically increased in the past few years. More people are turning to it for healthcare reasons and because it is making some feel better and have more energy.

How to Survive MCS

The key to surviving MCS is to stay away from substances that will trigger the onset of symptoms and to improve your indoor air quality. Some people are so sensitive to so many different chemicals that they do not allow synthetic materials in their homes. Others know what chemicals onset the symptoms and are able to avoid them more easily.

MCS patients can take advantage of Smelleze^® Reusable Deodorizer Pouches. They clean your air by absorbing  toxic odors and indoor air pollutants without covering up with harmful fragrances or  chemicals. These hazardous chemical odors and contaminants are given off from a wide variety of products and can be harmful to your health. They include mothballs, paint, solvents, pesticides, fragrances such as perfumes and air fresheners, adhesives, smoke, dry-cleaned clothes, and cleaning agents, to name a few. Researchers say that these types of chemicals and odors can cause a number of medical problems, including MCS and respiratory problems.

Organic bedding, natural personal care products, organic food and air cleaners like Smelleze^® will be an MCS sufferer’s best friends. Even if you do not have MCS, please remember that these toxins enter your body just like everyone else’s. MCS can develop at any time. Staying away from these toxic chemicals will help you to achieve a healthier immune system and avoid MCS.

Louise Baker is a freelance blogger and journalist who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and online schools. She most recently wrote about the top online colleges.

Air fresheners are commonly used to mask unpleasant odors in the home and other environments. What is not known about these air fresheners, especially the scented ones, is that they contain chemicals that are hazardous to humans. A wide range of health problems have been reported after exposure to air fresheners.

Birth Defects

Many types of scented air fresheners contain chemicals know as phthalates. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, pregnant women who inhale these chemicals are at greater risk of giving birth to babies with birth defects. Phthalates may also alter the hormones of males, leading to reproductive problems.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Many people are very sensitive to smells, and for these people, scented air fresheners can cause a variety of gastrointestinal problems, including nausea and diarrhea. Headaches, dizziness, and respiratory problems have also been reported in sensitive individuals.

Asthma and Allergies

For those with medical conditions and allergies, exposure to the chemicals in air fresheners can be extreme. Wheezing, chest pain, and an asthmatic attack can be triggered with just mild exposure. Unscented air fresheners may be even more dangerous, because the sensitive individual may not even realize the extent of their exposure. The discovery that the chemicals in these air fresheners are dangerous is recent, so more research will be needed to gauge the potential of that danger.

Organ and Other Bodily Damage

Air fresheners work by deadening nerve sensitivity that pick up scents according to the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia. A permanent loss of smell is possible. Organ damage, including the kidneys and liver is also possible. Some of the chemicals used in air fresheners are suspected carcinogens as well.

The EPA Gets Involved

The seven top air freshener manufacturers disclosed their ingredients to the EPA in 2007 after pressure from a coalition of environmental groups. The Alliance for Healthy Homes, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the EPA in an effort to have them investigate the risks associated with air fresheners. Although the petition was ultimately denied, the EPA asked the manufacturers to voluntarily disclose the ingredients to them. The seven companies eventually complied with the request.

In addition to the phthalates, the EPA disclosed that some air fresheners also contained formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, benzene, also a toxic carcinogen and other chemicals not known to the public. The seven company’s reports are severely redacted in order to protect trade secrets. The EPA has all the ingredients though.

When indoor odors become too much to bear, keep in mind how much worse it could be.

Louise Baker is a freelance blogger who usually writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. Her most recent article ranked the best online schools.

Anyone who loves the smell of new cars should be forewarned that the chemicals producing that smell can be hazardous to a person’s health. A 2001 study conducted by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in 2001 and a 2006 report released by the Ecology Center which is entitled, “Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars and the Need for Safe Alternatives,” both show that the chemical smells given off by new cars are infect toxic and make people sick.

Overall, the smell is made up of the chemicals used for constructing the leather and vinyl which, when overheated, give off fumes. Essentially, some of the chemical compounds used in the leather tanning process and in making vinyl are carcinogens, most notably is the known carcinogen benzene. Many notable companies such as Sony Ericsson and Apple Inc. are attempting to reduce the use of these compounds in plastics production under advice from the Environmental Protection Agency. These plastics are used in producing their products. Also used in making new cars are other volatile organic compounds (made of carbon) including toluene, chloride, formaldehyde, methylene, and of course, benzene. In fact, these compounds, when heated within a new car, tend to pollute the car’s air up to 35 times more if the same compounds are used in building a new home, according to a Japanese study.

The problem with these new car smells is that it makes many people sick. The fumes given off for the first six to eight months after a car has been produced have been linked with nausea, dizziness and other symptoms that make up the sickness known as “sick building syndrome.” Sick building syndrome was noted when people started complaining of the same symptoms after moving into a newly built or remodeled home. The carpets, walls and other materials used in the construction or remodeling of that home give off fumes, thus making a new home toxic to live in for some months.

Even more importantly, the level of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers which are used in making flame retardant materials, are even more toxic than the simple “new car smell.” The problem is that these chemicals also contribute to the smell. These chemicals emit toxins so damaging that breathing in the air saturated with these chemicals after purchasing a new car can impair a child’s learning in addition to polluting the fetus’s blood, possibly exposing it to learning problems. While many Japanese car companies are reducing the use of all of the chemicals that make the “new car smell,” most American companies, such s GE and Ford Motors, are not.

Louise Baker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually does car insurance comparisons over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. She recently wrote about finding cheap car insurance quotes.

If you’d like to be certain that the odor-removing products you’re buying are green, then here’s what you need to know:

Odors can be removed in three ways: you can mask it, capture it, or convert it. Most chemicals that remove odors combine these three functions into one product. That way, it can handle many different types of odors including pet, tobacco, and trash odors. However, it wasn’t until recently that pressure came upon chemical companies to improve their products to become more environmentally friendly.

Either an odor-removing chemical is environmentally friendly, or it isn’t. That’s true. However, you have to consider the entire package. You may not have thought yet about other hidden factors. For example, did the company test the product on animals? Pet odors are some of the toughest smells for chemical companies to remove. So, how do they find out if their product works? Well, they used to test the samples on animals. Today, that’s not considered green, so some companies discovered ways to test products without involving animals of any kind. Those companies will clearly state that fact right on the bottle.

Here are 5 things you need to look for when buying odor-removing products:

1. Organic

Organic chemicals are natural. They commonly occur in air, water, or earth. You’ll find extra comfort knowing this type of odor-removal product doesn’t contaminate the environment with unnaturally occurring chemicals.

2. Bio-degradable

The chemicals used should be bio-degradable. That means they break down after use. Some chemicals are not bio-degradable and they unnaturally hang around after capturing odor molecules.

3. Non-toxic

This is a no-brainer. The chemicals listed on the bottle should clearly assert to be non-toxic. That means it won’t poison humans, children, or animals.

4. Not Tested on Animals

Talking about animals, the product should not be tested on animals to qualify as green. The example given at the beginning of this article already discussed this at length, yet it bears repeating; pay special attention to products designed to remove pet odors. Remember, pick out the ones that clearly boast, “not tested on animals.”

5. Bottle is Recyclable

Finally, there’s the bottle itself. Is the bottle recyclable? Chemicals often require plastic bottles which end up in landfills. That’s not kosher if you claim to care about the environment. So make sure you can recycle the bottle, and then follow up. If you’re the type of person who has read this far, then you’re most likely someone who already recycles anyway. Good for you.

So, there you have it. That’s an overview of green odor removal. Now, you’ll be able to make an informed decision when buying odor-removing products.

Louise Baker writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. She has recently also wrote about the best schools online.

Removing odor improves indoor air quality and health in your home. Some odors are not simply unpleasant but can actually be detrimental to your well-being.

What are odors?

Odors are chemicals, natural or synthetic, in the air that bind to sense receptors in our nose. These reactions are interpreted by the brain as smells. The chemical particles can be detected in the air and counted. This is how air quality is measured.

What is air quality?

Air quality has two components: particulate matter and chemical molecules. Particulate matter is larger, like soot or pollen. Particulates don’t necessarily have odors. Chemical molecules are always present in the air, and we can smell some of them.

Do odors affect health?

Some chemicals with odors can be harmful. They can also be warnings to take action. There are two categories of issues here– airborne chemicals that are harmful in themselves, and odors which should prompt us to find and remove their source.

Airborne chemicals which are harmful

1. Different people react differently to the odors given off by new carpeting, upholstery and paint, but most of these products have distinctive odors from gases called volatile organic compounds. Many of these damage tissues as they are inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Effects can be long-term, resulting in cancer after years of exposure. Choosing natural fibers and organically certified products eliminates the toxins from your environment.

2. Secondhand smoke is known to contain chemicals and particulates which cause cancer. Ban smoking in your home, thoroughly clean all surfaces, especially fabrics.

3. Some cleaning products contain toxic chemicals. Choose organic cleaners.

4. Pesticides are extremely dangerous, and should not be used indoors. Choose organic or biological methods to control pests.

Odors as clues to other problems

1. A musty smell indicates mold growing. Mold is a living organism that reproduces by spores, causing extreme reactions in some people. Find the location of the mold and remove it. Mold grows where it is damp. You may need to make structural changes or repairs to plumbing to eliminate this odor.

2. Pet odors come from dander and elimination products. Dander is a particulate, and some people are allergic. If you can smell urine or feces your pet is relieving itself in the house. This is not only unpleasant, but bacteria will grow in these areas. Clean thoroughly and retrain your pet.

3. General bad odors are produced as bacteria grow on sweaty socks, in soured milk, a dirty toilet, etc. Some of these cause disease, and promote the breeding of vermin such as dust mites. Keeping a clean home really is related to having a healthy home.

Olfactory receptors

Black mold

Dust mites

Louise Baker blogs about getting an online degree at Zen College Life. Her most recent post looked at the best online schools.