You may not expect that harmful factors to your health exist in your own home. According to Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist with degrees from Harvard and Stanford University, there are 3 household items that contain toxins, long-term exposure can cause many health problems.
1. Plastic cutting boards
Plastic cutting boards are widely used because they are cheap, light, and very convenient to use and clean. However, using plastic cutting boards, especially cutting boards used for a long time, can release microplastic particles that enter the body through contact with food and this leads to many long-term health problems.
This type of microplastic is a health hazard and is related to reproductive, digestive and cancer problems.
Experts often encourage people to replace plastic cutting boards with wooden, glass or stone cutting boards. However, although wooden cutting boards do not release toxic substances, they need to be cleaned and stored carefully. Cracked, bent, or warped cutting boards can retain dangerous bacteria and are harmful to health. Glass cutting boards may be easier to clean, but they can make knives dull faster and are not versatile in food preparation.
Not only plastic cutting boards, you can also be contaminated with microplastic particles from using plastic to preserve food, drinking water from plastic bottles, ... especially if you use poor quality plastic.
2. Scratched non-stick pans
Nowadays, most families have at least 1 non-stick pan. This type of pan is affordable and convenient for stir-frying or frying because it does not stick to food. However, most families still use scratched non-stick pans to continue stir-frying without realizing that this action can be harmful to the health of all family members.
Scratched non-stick pans can release per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) - these are chemicals used in the coating of non-stick pans. These chemicals can leach into food when cooked and then enter the body.
When a person eats food contaminated with PFAS chemicals, the chemicals will stay in the body for a long time because they are excreted very slowly through urine. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can cause liver problems, high blood pressure or even cancer.
In particular, a study by the University of Texas found that children exposed to PFAS in the womb are more likely to develop autism. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can also put children at higher risk of kidney, testicular, ovarian, prostate, thyroid and bone marrow cancers as adults.
Instead of using a non-stick pan, you can use a pan made of stainless steel or cast iron. These materials are safer for health and can also be used for a long time.
3. Scented candles
Using scented candles will help you feel more comfortable, creating a cozy atmosphere. However, most scented candles are made from phthalates, which can cause endocrine disorders, affecting reproductive health in both men and women.
To protect your health, you should use unscented candles made from natural materials such as soybeans and beeswax.