Household products, particularly cleaning products and air fresheners as well as some building materials, carpets, wood panelling, easy care clothes and bedding release an array of pollutants. Gas stoves emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and organic compounds. Some furnishings emit formaldehyde. Contaminants in the air may exist as either gases or particles and may enter the body through direct contact with eyes or skin, through the respiratory tract or gastrointestinal tract. Some contaminants are toxic affecting the health of all people, while others are allergens, affecting only hypersensitive people.
Some contaminants are allergens at low concentrations and toxic at high concentrations.
Physical reactions to contaminants can range from mild irritation of the eyes or mucous membranes to headaches, nausea, asthma symptoms and skin rashes. Chemical sensitivity is a problem that is sometimes not recognised by doctors and can cause misery to anyone who suffers from it. Symptoms vary considerably but tend to be cerebral, often involving depression, fatigue and an inability to think clearly. The car is often an overlooked source of severe chemical exposure with vinyl and plastic interiors, motor and exhaust fumes. Replacing treated bedding with untreated natural materials.