The presence of some cleaning products, as toxic as 20 cigarettes

Home safety is a very important issue and this should not only be taken into account in aspects such as the protection of plugs or sources of potential fires. Also other elements such as Cleaning products They have to be taken into account, both for their potential toxicity in the organism of the smallest as well as for the effects they produce when it comes to breathing them.

This is highlighted by a recent investigation of Department of Clinical Science of the University of Bergen, in Norway. A work that shows how exposure to Cleaning products The home can alter the respiratory capacity of the little ones. An influence very similar to that of passive smokers and that demonstrates the potential severity of these articles.


Long-term effects

Although the effects of cleaning products are not noticed on a day-to-day basis, researchers observed the influence of these items long-term. Consequences very similar to what could be produced by exposure to 20 cigarettes within the normal environment of children. To confirm this hypothesis, the researchers used the results of the Respiratory Health Survey of the European Community in three points in a period of 20 years: from 1992 to 1994, from 1998 to 2002 and from 2010 to 2012.

The study demonstrated a prolonged exposure to chemical of cleaning products was comparable to that of smoking between 20 and 40 cigarettes a day. A warning about possible air pollution in the day to day of the families and that puts on the table the need for a single person not to take charge of all the work due to the continuous exposure to toxins.


It is also recommended the need for ventilate the home since direct exposure to these toxins is not the only one that causes these consequences. In the air are many particles that are breathed by the smallest, altering the functioning of their respiratory system and causing effects, as it has been said before, similar to those of snuff in children.

Accident prevention

The toxicity of cleaning products in the More smalls is known by organizations such as the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, AEP, warn of these dangers. Among all items, bleach, dishwasher tablets, scrubbers and laundry detergents are the most dangerous for children.

Leaving these products in accessible places, such as closets at floor level, or removing them from their original container to store them in a bottle of water or a soft drink, facilitates this type of direct poisoning. Using them in a non-ventilated environment ends up producing the same effect by breathing, and generating the consequences before exposed.


These are some of AEP's tips to prevent these
consequences:

- Keep the cleaning products immediately after using them to prevent the child from catching them in a moment of distraction.

- Store these products in places that are difficult for children to access, such as in the taller cabinets, under lock or with a safety lock for cabinets.

- Do not leave cleaning products in sight of children, especially if they have bright colors.

- Do not store them in containers different from the original and, above all, in water bottles or soft drinks. This can confuse the children.

- Have the least number of cleaning products necessary and get rid of leftovers, especially if they are more toxic and infrequently used, such as pesticides.

- Buy household products with a safety cap.

- Educate the child about the rules of conduct, making them see that these products are not for their use.

Damián Montero

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