Hazardous Toxins Lurking in Your Home

People like to think of their home as a sanctuary, a safe retreat. What they may not know is that their home could be teeming with toxins that pose health and environmental threats.

Toxins in U.S. homes account for about 90 percent of all reported poisonings each year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. While there are many groups that have come to the forefront in recent years to safeguard homeowners against toxins, taking measures into one's own hands is one of the best ways to protect against accidental poisonings or other ramifications of toxin exposure.

Here are some of the most common and hazardous toxins in and around the home.

1. Lead: Experts are continually modifying what constitutes safe lead levels. Lead is known to contribute to learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Lead is found in paint in older houses, old plumbing and soil near highways and busy roads. Some states mandate lead testing in homes built prior to1978 before they can be resold. Lead can also cause neurological and kidney damage, high blood pressure, disrupted blood cell production and reproductive problems.

2. Radon: When people think of lung cancer, they may immediately envision tobacco smoke and products, and rightfully so. However, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer cases. The trouble with radon is that it is a silent foe. It is a natural radioactive gas that can seep into homes through cracks in the basement, the surrounding foundation and in well water and enter the body through the respiratory system.

3. Carbon monoxide: Another silent killer, carbon monoxide is largely emitted from unserviced furnaces that burn oil, natural gas or butane. It kills hundreds of people each year in the U.S. alone. Having a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home can detect potentially harmful levels early.

4. Formaldehyde: Offgasses (evaporates) from this substance can be emitted from cushions, particleboard and the adhesives used to manufacture most inexpensive wood-based products. Carpets and carpet cushions may also contain formaldehyde, causing eye and upper respiratory irritation. According to the EPA, formaldehyde may even cause cancer.

5. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): VOCs are found in hundreds of natural and man-made, carbon-based agents. They react quickly with other carbon-based compounds, and evaporate easily, making them effective solvents. VOCs can be found in disinfectants and pesticides, too.