Would you sniff paint? Better yet, would you sniff pesticides or cleaning supplies? No, you don’t think so? Well, I might beg to differ. Why you ask? VOC’s baby!
Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration does not even regulate “Phthalates”. Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity). Phthalates are being phased out of many products in the United States, Canada, and European Union over health concerns.
Seem harmful enough so far, sure it does. Hold onto your hats though folks, it gets better. I haven’t even begun to discuss or describe what VOC’s are. “Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects”.
Before I get into the health effects, without further delay allow me to share with you where you wil find VOCs. SCENTED PLUGINS, those little unassuming products that are plugged into your wall can be so much more dangerous than they appear. In fact, many studies are demonstrating health effects such as.
- Ear, nose and throat issues
- Balance issues
- Liver issues
- Kidney issues
- Nausea and stomach issues
Indeed, the scariest of all the health issues is the fact that some VOCs have been shown to cause cancer in animals and people. “Paradoxically, the largest contributors of VOCs to human exposure (nearly 90 percent) are not the sources traditionally recognized and regulated, but rather sources that are small, close to us, largely unregulated, yet often within our control … such as consumer products and other indoor sources,” from the 2012 Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
The bottom line is this my friends, pull the plug on plugins! The description of Phthalates and VOCs may seem a bit confusing so here is what we need to remember if it isn’t natural and it smells good more than likely there are VOCs being emitted.
I don’t know about you but it sure scares the heck out of me that the FDA does not regulate these. If you are going to plug something in that you, your family and friends will be sniffing all day don’t you think the label should tell you what in the world your breathing in? My answer is just pull the plug on plugins!
