5 Common Bathroom Poisons to Avoid

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The bathroom, in recent years, has evolved into more than just a room for washing. It has become the epicenter of personal pampering and indulgence. In conjunction, it is also a storage facility for a person's most immediate needs. This includes a myriad of products designed to promote health and well-being. These very products, however, are also linked to multiple problems, most namely poison.

#1 Anti-depressants

Today, people are prone to treating health symptoms and problems with pills. At the forefront of these are prescription anti-depressants, which are regularly prescribed to males and females alike. Anti-depressants, however, pose a serious health threat to adults who mismanage them and to children who accidentally stumble upon them. According to the Mayo Clinic, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) pose the greatest threat for poisoning, as these are potent drugs designed to work on three different brain neurotransmitters. TCAs also are prescribed for other conditions, including chronic pain. The easiest way to avoid poisoning from anti-depressants is to deter from them altogether. Natural relief for both depression and pain is readily available and comes without the dangerous side effects associated with drugs.

#2 Hormones and Hormone Antagonists

Hormones and hormone antagonists, such as diabetes medications and feminine contraceptives, also exist in the bathrooms of many people. The National Capital Poison Center claims that contraceptives are one of the most readily-consumed medications by children. Immediate symptoms include vomiting and irritability, although the possibility for long-term effects has not yet been determined. Moreover, diabetic drugs can be life-threatening when ingested by youngsters. Thus, these medications should always be kept in a safe area that is well out of the reach of children.

#3 Aftershave

Although it seems unlikely, aftershave is another frequently-used bathroom product with the potential for danger. Like perfumes and colognes, aftershave contains large amounts of ethyl-alcohol, which is the same ingredient found in beer, wine and spirits. Health officials warn that some aftershave brands have higher levels of alcohol than alcoholic beverages. When ingested, this can cause a person to become intoxicated, and low blow blood sugar levels are known to occur in children. Eye and skin irritations are also common among young people who happen upon aftershave. Such dangers can be deterred by keeping all beauty products in a safeguarded place.

#4 Disposable Diapers

Previous studies have linked disposable diapers to a number of health hazards. Chief among these is the possibility of tributyl tin (TBT) poison, which can pose serious harm to a person's immune and hormone systems. Organotin compounds that compose diapers are believed to contain TBT. Thilo Mack, a toxics experts with Greenpeace, stated, "Fact is that TBT is one of the most toxic substances ever made, and it is being spread through the skin and contaminates the environment as well as people."

Disposable diapers are also linked to increased instances of asthma in children. Chemicals emitted from disposable diapers are inhaled by babies and can act as triggers for respiratory complications. Dr. Rosalind C. Anderson of Anderson Laboratories in West Hartford, Vermont, claimed, "Upon analysis, the diaper emissions were found to include several chemicals with documented respiratory toxicity." To avoid such dangers, parents are strongly urged to utilize cloth diapers for babies.

#5 Thermometers

Finally, thermometers made of mercury pose a lethal threat to all exposed persons. Dropping or otherwise breaking a thermometer releases invisible vapors that are inhaled, and skin contact is also probable as spilled mercury can form small droplets. Ultimately, this toxic substance is known to damage nervous and reproductive systems. The best way to prevent harm from mercury thermometers is to instead use digital ones. These can safeguard the health of loved ones and prevent mercury from being released into the household.

Sources: http://www.dpic.org/faq/perfume-cologne-aftershave

http://www.mnpoison.org/index.asp?pageID=162

http://www.nickisdiapers.com/pages/HealthConcerns.php

http://www.ehso.com/cssepa/mercuryspills.htm