Some hazards in the home are easy to see. Like a loose electrical socket. Or torn carpet on the stairs. But others are harder to spot. And some are invisible, in the very air you breathe. These include lead, mold, and radon.

But there are ways you can find and fix these unseen hazards. Learning about possible toxins in your home may be concerning. But knowledge can help you take action.

Getting the Lead Out

Lead is a naturally occurring metal. It’s used to make many products, like car batteries. But it doesn’t belong in your body. It causes damage to the brain and nervous system. Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children. There is no “safe” level of lead in the bloodstream.

Lead exposure causes problems with thinking, learning, and memory, says Dr. Aimin Chen, an environmental health researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. This can affect how well children do in school. “It’s also linked with attention problems and hyperactivity,” he explains.

These effects aren’t just found with high levels of lead. “Even at lower levels, which are more common in children, you see some of these associations,” Chen says.

Lead used to be added to gasoline and paint. These uses are no longer permitted. But paint lasts in homes for a long time. If you live in a house built before 1978, it likely has lead paint somewhere.

If older paint isn’t chipping or peeling, it’s not likely to create lead dust, says Chen. But paint can sometimes get damaged where you might not see it. Such areas include door frames and window sashes, Chen explains. Paint on the outside of a house can also chip and fall into the dirt where kids play.

Lead can get into drinking water through old lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures, too. Find out how to test for lead in paint, dust, and drinking water.

Testing for lead is especially important for younger children, up to the age of six, Chen explains. Your health care provider can check with a simple blood test. If your child has very high blood levels of lead, your health care provider can advise on whether they need to be treated and how.

You will also need to have the lead source cleaned up by a certified professional. Your local health department can provide information on what to do with lead paint. It’s not safe to try to fix it on your own.

Water and Mold

If you’ve ever left a loaf of bread or piece of fruit out too long, you’ve likely seen mold grow. Most types of mold are harmless. But some can be dangerous. They can produce compounds that trigger allergies or asthma attacks.

Mold can grow in buildings when water gets in, explains Dr. Matthew Perzanowski, an allergy and asthma researcher at Columbia University. And any type of dwelling can potentially get water damage, he says.

“In urban communities, it’s often poor ventilation in the bathroom, or a leak in another apartment,” says Perzanowski. “But water can also come from storms, or floods, or other kinds of leaks. And if you live somewhere with high outdoor humidity, that makes it harder to dry things out inside the home.”

Sometimes, you can see mold on walls or other surfaces. Other times, such as with a leak behind the walls, you may just smell it, Perzanowski says. Some people describe this smell as musty, stale, or damp.

If you find mold in your home, “you have to make sure that the water source goes away,” he says. “Cleaning and painting won’t do any good if you don’t get rid of the water.”

You can clean small areas of mold growth—less than three feet by three feet—yourself, Perzanowski explains. But take precautions not to breathe in the mold.

“Wear an N95 mask and goggles. Use warm soapy water and towels you can throw away,” he says.

You may need to remove and replace sections of caulking or walls that are moldy. Or throw out fabrics or rugs that can’t be cleaned. Large areas of mold damage may require professional help.

Perzanowski’s team is currently tracking whether a large-scale mold removal program in New York City helps reduce asthma symptoms in both children and adults. Learn more about mold cleanup from the EPA and CDC.

Radon on the Radar

You likely know that smoking cigarettes is one cause of lung cancer. But cigarettes aren’t the only toxin that increases that risk. An odorless, colorless, radioactive gas called radon can cause lung cancer, too.

Radon gas is found naturally in nearly all types of rock, in all parts of the country. It’s a risk if it gets inside. It can seep through cracks in floors, walls, and the foundations of homes and other buildings.

Even buildings without basements can have dangerous levels of radon, says Dr. Ellen Hahn, a nursing researcher who studies cancer risk reduction at the University of Kentucky.

Exposure to radon gas is most harmful to people who also smoke tobacco, says Hahn. “But breathing radon is really dangerous for everyone,” she explains. “There is no risk-free level of radon.”

Low-cost and free tests can measure radon levels in the home. If levels are high, a certified radon professional can vent it outside to make the home safe again. This process is called radon mitigation.

But few households test for radon. Even fewer mitigate. Hahn and her team have been looking for ways to increase radon testing in rural Kentucky. They have been recruiting and training local residents, including high school students, as “citizen scientists.” These volunteers perform home radon testing using digital radon detectors, which can be used over and over again. Standard kits for radon testing can only be used once. Her project also makes digital detectors available at local libraries.

“Libraries are trusted sources of information and resources,” Hahn says, “so why not make them places to check out a radon test kit as well?”

Her team is also looking at ways to get landlords to test for and mitigate radon. Renters can test, but the landlord decides whether to mitigate, she explains.

Certain regions can be hotspots for radon gas.

The products you use for cleaning, carpentry, auto repair, gardening, and many other household uses can contain ingredients that can harm you, your family, and the environment. These include

• Oven and drain cleaners
• Laundry powder
• Floor polish
• Paint thinners, strippers and removers
• Pesticides
• Grease and rust removers
• Motor oil and fuel additives
• Arts and craft supplies

Toxic substances in these products can cause harm if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. People respond to toxic substances in different ways. At high doses a toxic substance might cause birth defects or other serious problems, including brain damage or death.

To avoid problems, keep products in the containers they come in and use them exactly as the label says. Follow label directions or get medical help if you swallow, inhale or get them on your skin.

Key points

• Regularly cleaning surfaces in your home helps prevent the spread of germs that can make you sick.
• Cleaning surfaces in your home removes germs, dirt, and other impurities and helps you and your family stay healthy.
• Sanitizing or disinfecting to reduce the spread of disease at home is likely not needed unless there are sick people in your home.

Definitions

• Cleaningremoves most germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Clean with water, soap, and scrubbing.
• Sanitizingreduces germs to levels public health codes or regulations consider safe. Sanitizing is done with weaker bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays. Clean surfaces before you sanitize them.
• Disinfectingkills most germs on surfaces and objects. Disinfecting is done with stronger bleach solutions or chemicals. Clean surfaces before you disinfect them.

Cleaning

Clean first and clean regularly

Cleaning is an important first step to make sure you remove most germs from surfaces in your home. Using household cleaners that contain soap or detergent will remove germs and dirt on surfaces. Cleaning alone removes most harmful viruses or bacteria from surfaces. Surfaces should be cleaned before they are sanitized or disinfected because impurities like dirt may make it harder for chemicals to get to and kill germs.

Sanitizing reduces the remaining germs on surfaces after cleaning.

Disinfecting can kill viruses and bacteria that remain on surfaces after cleaning. By killing germs on a surface after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading germs that can cause illness. For everyday cleaning, you probably do not need to sanitize or disinfect unless someone in your home is sick or someone sick has recently visited.

Remember to clean first, and then sanitize or disinfect if needed.

When to clean surfaces in your home

• Clean high-touch surfaces (for example, light switches, doorknobs, and countertops) regularly and after you have visitors in your home.
• Clean other surfaces in your home when they are visibly dirty or as needed. Clean them more often if people in your household are more likely to get sick, such as young children and people with weakened immune systems. You may also choose to disinfect.
• Clean surfaces using a product suitable for each surface, following instructions on the product label.

How to safely clean various surfaces

In most situations, cleaning regularly is enough to prevent the spread of germs. Follow these tips to safely clean different surfaces in your home:

For hard surfaces, such as counters, certain toys, light switches, and floors:

• Clean surfaces with soap and water or with cleaning products appropriate for use on the surface.

For soft surfaces such as carpet, rugs, and drapes:

• Clean the surface with cleaning products appropriate for use on these surfaces.
• Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
• Vacuum surfaces (such as carpets and rugs) and dispose of the dirt safely.

For laundry items, such as clothing, towels, cloth toys, and linens:

• Launder using detergent and recommended water temperature.
• Dry items completely.
• It is safe to wash dirty laundry from a person who is sick with other people's items.
• Clean clothes hamper or laundry baskets according to guidance for surfaces.
• Wash hands after handling dirty laundry.

For electronics, such as phones, tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls:

• Consider putting a wipeable cover on electronics, which makes cleaning and disinfecting easier.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for cleaning.

Fact‎

Sanitizing

When to sanitize in your home

Some surfaces and objects in your home may need to be sanitized after they are cleaned.

• Sanitize food contact surfaces after a natural disaster (such as flooding) or emergency.
• You may want to sanitize the inside of your refrigerator if you have a recalled food item.
• Sanitize surfaces using a product suitable for each surface, following instructions on the product label.

How to Sanitize Safely

Daily sanitizing may not be necessary if surfaces and objects are cleaned carefully after use. To sanitize a surface or object, use a weaker bleach solution or an EPA-registered sanitizing product.

For nonporous objects, such as certain toys and infant feeding items:

• Sanitize items by either boiling, steaming, or using a weaker bleach solution. Check with the item's manufacturer about which method to use. A dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle can be used for some items.
• After sanitizing, place items on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel and allow to air dry thoroughly before storing or using.
• Do not use a dish towel to rub or pat items dry because doing so may transfer germs to the items.

For hard surfaces, such as kitchen counters and food preparation areas:

• Clean countertops with hot, soapy water.
• Then sanitize any surface that has touched or been contaminated by raw meat, poultry, or their juices, including the inner sink, using a homemade bleach solution or sanitizing products.

For more information on food safety, please visit CDC's Food Safety page.

Disinfecting

When to disinfect

In addition to cleaning, disinfect your home when someone is sick or if someone is at a higher risk of getting sick due to a weakened immune system (for example, people being treated with immune-suppressing drugs for cancer, organ transplants, or other illnesses, or people with HIV or genetic conditions that affect the immune system).

How to disinfect safely

To disinfect, use an EPA-registered disinfecting product or a stronger bleach solution. Clean the surface with soap and water first.

Follow these important safety guidelines when using chemical disinfectants:

• Always read and follow the directions on the label of disinfecting products to ensure safe and effective use and safe disposal.
• Wear the recommended protective equipment (for example, gloves or goggles) to protect your skin and eyes from potential splashes.
• Leave the disinfectant on the surface long enough to kill the germs. This is called the contact time. You can find the contact time in the directions. The surface should stay wet during the entire contact time to make sure germs are killed.
• Ensure good ventilation if using products indoors (for example, use a fan or open windows and doors to allow fresh air to enter).
• If the directions tell you to dilute the product with water, use water at room temperature (unless the label says otherwise). Label diluted cleaning or disinfectant solutions.
• Store and use chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.
• Do not mix products or chemicals with each other.
• Do not eat, drink, breathe, or inject disinfection products into your body or apply directly to your skin. These products can cause serious harm.
• Do not wipe or bathe pets with any disinfection products.

If ready-to-use disinfectants are not available, you can use bleach solutions for many hard surfaces. Bleach solutions will be effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi when properly diluted.

Caution!‎

Many household products such as cleaners and pesticides could harm children, pets, or the environment if not used and stored correctly. Choose a product that is labeled for your specific pest. EPA encourages consumers to consider using EPA-registered biopesticides and products with EPA’s Safer Choice label, which are generally less harmful.
Simply reading a products label will help keep your family, your pets, and your community safe.

Keep Your Family and Community Safe with these Tips

✔ Read the Label First

Labels tell you:

• How to use a product safely and effectively.
• How to store the product safely.
• First aid instructions.
• Phone numbers to call for help or more information.

✔ Follow All Label Precautions

• Warnings and directions tell you how to use products safely and correctly.
• Follow warnings to open windows, wear gloves, and not breathe product dust.
• Keep pets and children away from treated areas as directed on the label.

✔ Keep Products in Original Containers

• It is very dangerous to put products in food and beverage containers. Children think that something in a familiar bottle is safe to drink or play with.
• Containers without tight fitting lids can easily spill.
• If you throw away the original container, you throw away important information needed in case of an emergency.
• If the label tells you to mix a product in another container, use all of the mixture. If you can’t use all the mixture, label the new container for use in the future.

✔ Prevent Harm to the Environment

• Apply a product according to the label directions to prevent harm to the environment
• Do not apply a product where it could run into ponds, creeks, or other water supplies and contaminate drinking water and kill wildlife
• Spraying products on a windy day can carry the product into nearby water.
• Never pour pesticides or other lawn and garden products down the drain.

✔ Buy the Right Product for Your Needs

• Read the label to make sure you’re buying the right product for the job. This will save you time, money, and frustration.
• Buy only what you need. If you buy too much, pass the product on to someone who can use it, with the label instructions. Some products might not be effective if stored for long periods of time. A larger size is not a good value if you can’t use it.
• Use the right amount. Labels indicate the correct amount to use. Using more can waste the product, your money and can cause harm to people, pets and the environment.

Know Where to Call for Help

• Many labels contain a phone number to call in an emergency.
• Have your local poison control center number and veterinarian’s or local animal hospital number easily accessible.
• Have the product label with you when you call! The label provides those helping you with important information about the product.

Safe Management of HHW

To avoid the potential risks associated with household hazardous wastes, it is important that people always monitor the use, storage, and disposal of products with potentially hazardous substances in their homes. Improper disposal of HHW can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the regular trash.

The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers, contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets. They can also present hazards to children and pets if left around the house.

Some quick tips for the safe handling of household hazardous wastes include:

• Follow any instructions for use and storage provided on product labels carefully to prevent any accidents at home.
• Be sure to read product labels for disposal directions to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing other hazards on the way to a disposal facility.
• Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. Corroding containers, however, require special handling. Call your local hazardous materials official or fire department for instructions.
• When leftovers remain, never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become unrecyclable.
• Check with your local environmental, health or solid waste agency for more information on HHW management options in your area.
  • If your community doesn’t have a year-round collection system for HHW, see if there are any designated days in your area for collecting HHW at a central location to ensure safe management and disposal.
  • If your community has neither a permanent collection site nor a special collection day, you might be able to drop off certain products at local businesses for recycling or proper disposal. Some local garages, for example, may accept used motor oil for recycling. Check around.
• Remember, even empty containers of HHW can pose hazards because of the residual chemicals that might remain so handle them with care also.

Reducing HHW in Your Home

Consider reducing your purchase of products that contai hazardous ingredients. Learn about the use of alternative methods or products—without hazardous ingredients—for some common household needs. When shopping for items such as multipurpose household cleaners, toilet cleaners, laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwashing machine pods and gels, bug sprays and insect pest control, consider shopping for environmentally friendly, natural products or search online for simple recipes you can use to create your own.

Below are some ideas to get you started. Additional information is available from EPA's Safer Choice program.

Regulating HHW

While most hazardous wastes that are ignitable, reactive, corrosive or toxic in America are regulated in America under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Congress developed an exclusion for household waste. Under this exclusion, found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 261.4, wastes generated by normal household activities (e.g., routine house and yard maintenance) are excluded from the definition of hazardous waste. Specifically, wastes covered by the household hazardous waste exclusion must satisfy two criteria:

1. The waste must be generated by individuals on the premise of a temporary or permanent residence, and
2. The waste stream must be composed primarily of materials found in wastes generated by consumers in their homes.

EPA interprets this exclusion to include household-like areas, such as bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas.

Although household hazardous waste is excluded from Subtitle C of RCRA, it is regulated under Subtitle D of this law as a solid waste. In other words, household hazardous waste is regulated on the state and local level.

You’ve heard it before, ”Better to be safe than sorry.” There are always some chances in life we can afford to take, but risks that can affect your child’s health should always be prevented. By performing just a few common sense practices in a home, parents can ensure the well-being of their child’s health and future. Play it safe, and no one has to worry.

Most poisonings happen in a child’s home, but some take place outside of it, such as while visiting the home of a friend, family member, or babysitter. For this reason, it’s critical that all caregivers of children make a room by-room inspection of their homes for improperly stored pesticide products, things that are used to control or kill ants, cockroaches, mice, rats, or termites.

What are some common pesticides found around the house?

Common household pesticides include:

• Roach sprays and baits;
• Bath and kitchen disinfectants and sanitizers, including bleach;
• Rat and other rodent poisons;
• Insect repellents;
• Products used to kill mold or mildew;
• Flea and tick shampoos, powders, and dips for pets; and
• Weed killers.

Take a look around your home. Do you know what’s in your household goods and products? Some chemicals can harm your health if too much gets into your body. Becoming aware of potentially harmful substances and clearing them out can help keep you and your family healthy.

“There’s a range of chemicals that you can be exposed to in your home, generally at very low levels,” says Dr. Andrew Rooney, a toxicology and risk expert at NIH. Possible toxic substances can be found in building materials, cookware, cleaning products, shower curtains, furniture, carpet, and other common items.

Not all chemicals are harmful. In fact, most substances in our environment are likely safe, explains Dr. Heather Patisaul, a neuroscience and toxicology expert at North Carolina State University. “Only a small subset is probably toxic,” she says. “Although that’s worrisome, there are many simple things you can do to help minimize your exposure.”

Often, it’s how much you’re exposed to that can make a chemical harmful. The amount that’s “safe” varies for each substance. NIH-funded researchers are working to learn more about how chemicals in the environment can affect our health, so we can better address any issues.

Sometimes it’s obvious when a chemical is hazardous. You may get a rash from spilling a household cleaner on your skin. Or you may start coughing when you breathe in irritating fumes. To avoid known health risks, be sure to read the instructions carefully on your household products, and follow any safety precautions.

Some toxic chemicals cause no immediate or clear symptoms. Lead, for example, is well known for its poisonous effects. Generally, the more lead you have in your body, the more likely you’ll have health problems. Lead can cause high blood pressure, fertility problems, muscle and joint pain, and memory and concentration problems. As a result, lead is no longer allowed in paints, gasoline, and cans used for food. But lead can still be found in lead-based paint used in older homes, household dust, and drinking water pumped through leaded pipes.

“The best way to protect yourself from the health effects of lead is not by treatment but rather by preventing exposure,” Rooney explains. If you live in an older home, check with your local health department about any lead that may be in the paint, dust, or drinking water. Local experts can guide you in steps you can take to prevent lead exposure.

Young children are more vulnerable to lead and many other chemicals. That’s because their bodies and brains are still developing. Kids can also be exposed to toxins from normal childhood behaviors, like playing on the floor and putting their toys or hands in their mouths.

“Chemicals can come out of our products and end up in the air and dust in the home, where they can enter your body,” says Dr. Ami Zota, an environmental and public health expert at George Washington University. Her team recently discovered 45 different chemicals that are commonly found in indoor dust. Many of the identified chemicals belong to a group called “endocrine disruptors.”

When endocrine disruptors get into your body, they can mimic or block the natural hormones your body makes. Evidence suggests that endocrine disrupters might reduce fertility, raise the risk for some cancers, or cause other harms. These chemicals may pose their greatest health risks when people are exposed in the womb or during their first few years of life, when hormones are guiding development of the body’s organs and brain.

Substances thought to cause endocrine disruption include certain fragrances, pesticides, and stain-resistant coatings. NIH-funded researchers study the health effects of several types of chemical classes tied to hormone disruption, including phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), PFCs (or perfluorinated chemicals), and flame retardants.

Phthalates are a family of man-made chemicals used to make plastics, cleaners, and fragrances. The human health effects of phthalates are not yet fully known but are being studied by several government agencies, including NIH. In animals, phthalate exposure has been linked to many reproductive health and developmental problems. To reduce your exposure, read product labels and avoid using products that contain phthalates. Some—but not all—phthalate-containing products might be clearly labeled: “contains phthalates.” But sometimes phthalates might be listed as a 3- or 4-letter abbreviation, such as BBP, DBP, or DEP. These phthalates must be listed among the ingredients on product labels, unless they are added as a part of the “fragrance.”

“Many hundreds of chemicals can be classified as fragrance,” Patisaul explains. “So when you use a cleaner with a scent, it probably has some phthalates in it—even though the label doesn’t specifically say phthalates.” You can look for “fragrance-free” products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also provides the “Safer Choice” label, which is used on products made with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.

PFCs are widely used to make everyday products more resistant to stains, grease, and water. They can be found in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant sofas and carpets, and waterproofed clothing and mattresses. In animal studies, some PFCs disrupt normal hormone activity, reduce immune system function, or cause developmental problems. Some evidence suggests that certain PFCs may also affect human health, with possible ties to low birth weight, obesity, and testicular and kidney cancers.

Certain PFCs, like those used to make Teflon, are being phased out of use in the U.S. But some older household items, like nonstick pans, may still contain them. If you have an older nonstick pan that is dinged and worn out, try to replace it.

Flame retardants are added or applied to materials to slow or prevent a fire. But a growing body of evidence links many of these chemicals to negative health effects in animals and humans. Flame retardants can be found in foam, upholstery, mattresses, carpets, curtains, and fabric blinds. Flame retardant use has been declining in recent years. But these chemicals are still found in some products. When buying new items, especially for children, try to purchase furnishings filled with cotton, polyester, or wool, instead of polyurethane foam.

“The best thing is to become aware that there are chemicals in your environment, and there are very simple things that you can do to lower your exposure,” Patisaul says.

Chemicals are everywhere, and most are harmless. Limiting the potentially toxic ones in your day-to-day life can help you create a safer, healthier home.

Learn what’s in the products you purchase, and make informed decisions. You can also take steps to get rid of risky chemicals by keeping the dust down in your house.

Keep Indoor Spaces Healthy

To reduce potentially toxic substances in your home:

• Clean with “Safer Choice” or non-toxic products.
• Dust using a damp rag.
• Use a wet mop to clean floors.
• Vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
• Open a window or use a fan to improve air circulation when you’re cleaning.
• Have and maintain a good ventilation system in your home.
• Wash your hands and your children’s hands often.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues.

The Endocrine System

Endocrine glands, distributed throughout the body, produce the hormones that act as signaling molecules after release into the circulatory system. The human body is dependent on hormones for a healthy endocrine system, which controls many biological processes like normal growth, fertility, and reproduction. Hormones act in extremely small amounts, and minor disruptions in those levels may cause significant developmental and biological effects.

How Do We Encounter These Chemicals?

Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products, including some cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, toys, carpet, and pesticides. Some chemicals that act as flame retardants may also be endocrine disruptors. Contact with these chemicals may occur through air, diet, skin, and water. EDCs cannot be completely avoided or removed; however, you can make informed choices to reduce exposure and risk of any potential health effects.

Chemicals That May Disrupt Your Endocrine System

According to the Endocrine Society, there are nearly 85,000 human-made chemicals in the world, and 1,000 or more of those could be endocrine disruptors, based on their unique properties. The following are among the most common and well-studied.

• Atrazine is one of the most commonly applied herbicides in the world, often used to control weeds in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane crops.
• Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used in manufacturing, food packaging, toys, and other applications. BPA resins may be found in the lining of some canned foods and beverages.
• Dioxins are a byproduct of certain manufacturing processes, such as herbicide production and paper bleaching. They can be released into the air from waste burning and wildfires.
• Perchlorate is a colorless salt manufactured and used as an industrial chemical to make rockets, explosives, and fireworks, which can be found in some groundwater.
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals used widely in industrial applications, such as firefighting foam, nonstick pans, paper, and textile coatings.
• Phthalates are a large group of compounds used as liquid plasticizers. They are found in hundreds of products including some food packaging, cosmetics, fragrances, children’s toys, and medical device tubing. Cosmetics that may contain phthalates include nail polish, hair spray, aftershave lotion, cleanser, and shampoo.
• Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring substances with hormone-like activity found in some plants; they may have a similar effect to estrogen produced by the body. Soy foods, for example, contain phytoestrogens.
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are used to make flame retardants for products such as furniture foam and carpet.
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used to make electrical equipment, such as transformers, and are in hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and plasticizers. PCBs were mass-produced globally until they were banned in 1979.
• Triclosan is an ingredient that was previously added to some antimicrobial and personal care products, like liquid body wash and soaps.

How do people encounter endocrine-disrupting chemicals?

People may be exposed to endocrine disruptors through food and beverages consumed, pesticides applied, and cosmetics used. In essence, your contact with these chemicals may occur through diet, air, skin, and water.

Even low doses of endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be unsafe. The body’s normal endocrine functioning involves very small changes in hormone levels, yet we know even these small changes can cause significant developmental and biological effects. This observation leads scientists to think that endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures, even at low amounts, can alter the body’s sensitive systems and lead to health problems.