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The
household toxic tour
Home
Laundry
Bathroom
Bedrooms
Living
rooms Baby's
room Garden
Shed Hobby
Room
The garage
A number of dangerous substances are
found in the garage or tool shed, including paint, paint thinners, benzene,
paraffin, mineral spirits, turpentine, lubricating/motor oils, and petrol.
Some of the toxic chemicals found in these products include these
chemicals:
- Toluene
found in some paints, thinners, lacquers, wood putty and petrol can cause
liver and kidney damage, spontaneous abortions, miscarriages and even death;
- Benzene,
found in some paints, paint thinners, petrol, motor oils, and resins, is
cancer causing, and is toxic if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed by the skin.
- mineral
spirits in oil-based paint are a skin, eye, nose throat, and lung
irritant. High air concentrations can cause nervous system damage,
unconsciousness and death;
- Lead
can be found in exhaust fumes and old paint. Lead can affect almost every
organ and system in your body. The most sensitive is the central nervous
system, particularly in children. Lead also damages kidneys and the
reproductive system. The effects are the same whether it is breathed or
swallowed. Even at very low doses lead is bad for children, as it is
associated with IQ deficiencies, reading and learning disabilities, impaired
hearing, reduced attention spans, hyperactivity, and antisocial behaviour.
Almost all symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are the same as the
symptoms of lead poisoning.
- Charcoal
lighters and briquettes contain petroleum distillates. Some petroleum
distillates contain benzene, a known human carcinogen. Benzopyrene
is released from low temperature fires, such as the barbecue/ braai/ grill
and causes cancer.
Hints
for a garage
- Carefully
dispose of chemicals you no longer use.
- Never
pour antifreeze, oil or other chemicals on the ground, into storm sewers or
down the drain.
- Call
your local government to see if they have a disposal location for used car
batteries and other household hazardous wastes.
- Keep
products in their original container when possible. If a container is
leaking, put it in a spill proof secondary container.
- For
a braai/barbeque, substitute charcoal lighters and briquettes with twigs
& paper to get the fire going.
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