Mums and dads, you might want to clean your home more thoroughly because according to a study, there's a possibility that house dust can cause cancer and infertility.
Yup, you read that right. It sounds surprising but the simple chores of dusting your furniture and making sure your home is clean can potentially prevent you and your family from getting cancer or being infertile!
How can house dust cause cancer and infertility?
Is dust harmful? The dust inside your home might be laden with toxic chemicals that cause cancer and infertility!
According to Dr. Ami Zota from Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., potentially harmful chemicals that can cause cancer and infertility can hide inside house dust and can cause health problems whenever people are exposed to this toxic dust.
"The findings suggest that people, and especially children, are exposed on a daily basis to multiple chemicals in dust that are linked to serious health problems," she adds.
She and her team found 45 potentially toxic chemicals that are commonly used in household and consumer products such as cosmetics, cleaning products, home furnishings, vinyl flooring, and building materials.
According to Dr. Zota, what happens is that toxins and harmful chemicals that are found in day-to-day products get released into the air, and then settle into the house dust. Whenever a person inhales the house dust, then they are also directly inhaling the harmful chemicals present in the dust, and can potentially cause them to get sick.
Young children are especially at risk because they have a tendency to crawl on the floor or explore places wherein there can be a lot of dust.
Veena Singla, co-author of the study, shares, "We think our homes are a safe haven but unfortunately they are being polluted by toxic chemicals from all our products."
How can parents protect their family?
The threat of toxic dust inside your own home can be alarming, however, that doesn't mean that you can't do anything about it. Here are some important reminders about keeping your home clean and free from any harmful chemicals or toxins:
- Try to avoid using harmful chemicals to clean your home. In a lot of situations, a simple mixture of lemon juice and salt can help you remove stubborn stains from various surfaces.
- Place a doormat on both the outside and inside of your front and back doors. Having a doormat can help prevent you and your family from tracking dirt and potential toxins from outside into your home.
- Make sure your carpets are always clean. Carpets are notorious for being dust magnets, so make sure to vacuum any carpeted surfaces at least twice a week, and get your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year.
- Instead of using window cleaners, try cleaning them with vinegar and water. Just mix one part water to one part vinegar and put the mixture inside a spray bottle. Vinegar is a really good cleaner, and it will actually remove most of the stains that expensive and harmful chemical window cleaners can.
- Try to dust your home at least once a week. It might sound like such a chore, but dusting once a week can really help prevent any dust from building up inside your home, especially for those who live in areas more prone to dust. You can even schedule it on weekends so that the entire family can help out.
- Don't forget the curtains! A lot of people tend to forget that curtains are also big dust magnets. Make sure to replace your curtains at least once a month, and to keep them free from dust.
Sources: Guardian, Time
READ: How to bust dust and eliminate allergens from your home
