There's no place like home. Our home is where we should feel safe and loved, protected from the elements and dangers lurking outside in the wild world. Tests run in 1998 by the state of New York and a private lab showed traces of chemicals used in the extermination job of two years earlier. The family moved out of the house. The active ingredient in the pesticide used in the case is chlorpyrifos.
Most studies show that when properly used, chlorpyrifos is safe for home use.
However, it can have life-threatening or even fatal effects, especially among individuals with low levels of the enzyme paraozonase. Certain toxic chemicals can cause mutations in a person's genes, leading to various genetic defects that cause health-related problems. These defects can be passed on from parent to child. A toxic substance may cause damage locally at the point of entry into the body, or it may enter the bloodstream and gradually cause damage throughout the body. Name several substances in your home that can harm you if they come into contact with your skin or eyes.