Household Products' Hidden Hazards

Many common, useful household products contain chemicals that may be hazardous to your health, in the short or long-term.

Cleaners, glues, paints and many other items need to be handled with care, advises Ronni Sandroff, health editor of Consumer Reports magazine.

But, she tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler, there are precautions you can take to minimize the risk.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventionin Atlanta says it's not only the mere presence of these chemicals causing concern, but their amounts.

Sandroff points out there are two types of dangers: "One is the immediate danger of something burning your skin or your inhaling fumes, and that happens quite a bit.

"The other issue is…the long-range effects, the chronic effect on your nervous system. Some of these chemicals are carcinogens in large doses. We don't really know what our safe household dose is. One study of household dust found there were 15 chemicals in it that were over federal guidelines."

Sarnoff urges that everyone read warning labels that accompany household products, "even if it means pulling out a magnifying glass" to see them. "They're complicated. But they do usually tell you to use gloves with the product, make sure it's in a ventilated area, keep them away from flames, and things like that."

This month's issue of Consumer Reports runs down some of the more common household products and what people can use as alternatives.

For instance, bathroom and kitchen cleansers. Sandroff says, "You can get irritations on your skin and in your lungs from inhaling the fumes, or having (the product) touch your skin, from drain cleaners, oven cleaners, even furniture polishes."

But abrasive sponges and "the snake" are two examples of alternatives to the riskier products.

Even arts and crafts aids need to be used with caution. "Rubber cement and superglues in large doses aren't good for your nervous system," Sandroff warns. But "you can use water-based paints and glues. Those are the safest. Lead is now banned in children's paints, but still exists in adult paints and ceramics. Always use those things in well-ventilated areas."

Treated wood products need to be addressed as well, Sandroff says. "In 2004, manufacturers voluntarily stopped producing these preserved woods," she notes. "But they still exist on decks and in play areas.

"You should never saw that type of wood, the treated wood, and you should also, if you're cleaning it and spending a lot of time handling it, you should wear gloves or wash your hands."

And when using house paints and paint removers, make sure you open your windows.