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and last a lot longer than your normal ones, but did you know that if they break they release mercury gas? It is a neurotoxin that can cause problems with the kidneys. When you are inserting and screwing them into the socket, make sure you hold them by the plastic base and when disposing of them double wrap them in plastic. Better still, Ikea are offering a free drop off service for them.

Did you know that the sponge that you are using to wipe your tables and wash your dishes can be holding up to 10.000 bacteria per square inch? The Journal of Environmental Health recently suggested that people could microwave the sponges to get rid of the bacteria, but the down side to this was that the sponges have a tendency to catch fire! Joseph Laquatra, Ph.D., a professor of family policy at Cornell University suggests the best way to treat sponges is to either boil them (if you have the inclination) or better still. Just throw them in the dishwasher once a week.

Even your nice, new self assembled bookshelves can cause health problems. If you have the particleboard ones then beware. Particleboard is glued together using a substance called formaldehyde. This can still give off vapors which are still powerful enough to irritate the eyes and skin. The answer to this problem can be an extra coat of varnish which will trap the harmful vapors and enhance the look of your shelves.

One of the second leading causes of lung cancer is caused by an element called radon. A lot of houses are built on land that hold high levels of decayed uranium (radon) This substance can seep up into your home without you even realizing. For peace of mind run a radon test on your property every 2 years. If you find that you do have a problem, a ventilation pipe can be installed that will help suck away the extremely toxic particles.

Known as The Silent Killer, Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas. It is produced as a result of improperly burning carbon based fuels which can be emitted by all kinds of domestic equipment such as space heaters, open fires, and wood stoves etc. Never take a chance with this gas, it is deadly when released. There are many types of CO detector n the market and they are extremely efficient warning systems if your appliances develop problems. Always use according to manufacturing instructions.

Remember that the quality of the air that we breathe is so important both indoors and out. it plays a direct role in keeping our lungs at a healthy level. We have little control over the environment outside our homes, but by being vigilant and keeping an eye on the environment within our own homes will mean that our home really IS the safe haven we always assumed it was, protecting us from the outside elements - instead of adding more pressure on our health

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/b iologic.html
http://www.cpsc.go v/cpscpub/pubs/425.html

Learn more about this author, Jane Allyson.
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