Clean Living

Most Canadians are aware of the health

risks posed by chemical toxins in the

workplace. However, many of us may not

know of the risks posed by long-term exposure to chemicals in the place where we spend most of our time: our homes.

In the vast majority of cases, the best way to reduce levels of chemical contaminants is to prevent them

from entering your environment in the first place. To keep your house as chemical-free as possible, thoroughly screen all substances you bring into your

home and carefully select building materials if you're building or renovating.

To identify potential sources of toxins, take an inventory of the products and materials that you use

and avoid or minimize those known to give off

chemical emissions (also called off-gassing).

Unfortunately, only a few products-such as glass,

ceramic tile, metal, stone, and other hard, inert

materials-do not release emissions. To find out what

other products may emit chemicals, look at literature

or websites that provide reliable information

about specific products or consult with qualified

experts who are trained to understand the materials

you're using.

The most common sources of off-gassing are the

chemicals used to clean around the home, including

solutions, floor wax, stain removers, air fresheners,

scented soaps and detergents, fragrant fabric softeners,

and personal cosmetics. Using these substances can

result in continuous exposure to chemicals, so if you or

your family experiences any adverse reactions, switch to

unscented or non-toxic cleaners.

Another source of chemical emissions are products

that you use frequently and in large quantities, such

as building materials. In general, substances such

as paint, varnish, and glue will release emissions at

the beginning and decline over time to low or

non-detectable levels. Materials that are subject to

high temperatures (such as a carpet laid over

a heated floor) or high moisture levels (like

particleboard furniture kept in a humid spot) can also

be significant sources of chemical emissions.

Unless you have an impaired sense of smell, you

can often use your nose as a guide. But remember

that while an odour can indicate the presence of

emissions, the absence of odour doesn't necessarily

rule out the possibility of chemical contaminants.

The concentration of the chemical contaminants may simply

be lower than what you can detect or they may have

no discernable odour, such as with carbon monoxide,

carbon dioxide, and radon.

Occasionally, poor indoor air quality comes from

unexpected sources. For example, strong, unpleasant

odours have been traced to overheated plastic sockets

in light bulbs receptacles, so never use a higher

wattage bulb than recommended and note that some

light fixtures may require a ceramic socket.

To reduce kitchen odours, take proper care of your

garbage or compost container, including rinsing any

meat packaging before tossing it into the trash and

keeping perishables in the freezer until garbage day.

Always turn on the range hood while cooking. In the bathroom, use the exhaust

fan to remove moisture and

residual odours.

If you notice that the

air quality in your home

deteriorates suddenly,

examine any items you've

brought into the house

recently. If you think

you've identified the

culprit, isolate the item

in another room or

encapsulate it temporarily

with polyethylene. Then

note whether removing the

item helped clear the air.

For more information or

for a free copy of CMHC's

fact sheets How to Reduce

Chemical Contaminants in Your Home and How to

Read a Material Safety Data Sheet, contact CMHC at

www.cmhc.ca or 1?800-668-2642.

Mark Salerno is district manager for the GTA at the

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. For

over 60 years, CMHC has been Canada's national

housing agency and a source of objective, reliable

housing expertise.