Ottawa – Every day, we are exposed to chemicals and pollutants in the air, water, soil, food and products we use in our home. Here are some tips on how to help protect yourself and those around you.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands with soap and warm, running water for at least 20 seconds before and after touching food, and after using the washroom, changing diapers, or touching, feeding or cleaning-up after pets. Washing your hands often helps prevent infection and reduce exposure to harmful substances. In most cases, you don’t need antibacterial or antimicrobial soap for safe, effective hand hygiene.
Wash surfaces and utensils often
Wash surfaces, like counters and cutting boards, and utensils with soap and hot water. This will help reduce the risk of bacteria growth and food poisoning.
Wash fresh fruits and vegetables
Use clean, running water that is safe to drink. We don’t recommend washing fresh produce with soap, chlorine (bleach) or other chemicals. Fresh produce is porous and can absorb chemicals that you aren’t meant to eat.
Test for lead in your drinking water
Get your tap water tested if you live in an older home or neighbourhood and you think you may have lead in the plumbing. Lead can cause many harmful health effects, especially to the brain, nervous system, blood system and kidneys. Exposure to lead, even at low levels, poses the greatest risk to children because their bodies are still developing.
If you rent and live in an older home or neighbourhood, the plumbing system may have lead pipes and lead-based solder. Your landlord or superintendent should be able to help you find this information.
Reduce your exposure to lead in your drinking water
If you’re concerned about lead or other metals in your drinking water, let tap water run until it’s cold before using it for drinking, cooking or preparing baby food. This can help reduce your risk of exposure to lead and other metals from your plumbing. Every month, inspect the aerators or screens at the tap. If you find debris, clean it out to remove any particles that may contain lead. A household water filter at the tap is an effective way to remove lead from your water. Ensure that you install and maintain the filter properly, and that it’s certified to the NSF International standard for removal of lead.
Consider replacing lead pipes
If you have a lead service line, consider having it completely removed. Contact your water utility to coordinate the replacement of both the water utility and homeowner portions of the service line. In most communities, the municipality is only responsible for a portion of the service line and you are responsible for the other portion, usually from the curb to the home.
Use your range hood when cooking
Operate a range hood on the highest setting when using your oven or stove to vent water vapour and air pollutants. If you don’t have a range hood or fan that vents outside, open windows when possible. Tiny particles of cooked food, fat, and oil get into the air when we fry, roast, broil, sauté, toast, bake or burn food.
Use your gas stove safely
Ensure your gas stove is properly installed, maintained and used. Improperly maintained gas stoves may emit carbon monoxide (CO), particles, and other pollutants. Exposure to CO can lead to health problems ranging from tiredness and headaches to chest pain and even death, depending on how much CO is in the air. Never use aluminum foil to line the bottom of your gas oven. Keep the openings and vents on your gas oven clear from blockages to prevent gas leaks and fire hazards.
If you rent, ask your landlord to have any gas stoves or water heaters serviced by a trained professional.
Store your food safely
Store food in food-grade containers, such as glass or stainless steel. Avoid pouring hot liquids into plastic containers not intended for holding hot food. The heat may allow the plastic to leach into your food.
Use microwave safe containers
Remove food from any packaging that isn’t microwave-safe, such as styrofoam trays or some plastic containers, before heating. Use glass, ceramic and plastic containers and plastic wrap that are labelled microwave safe. Single-use containers, like margarine or yogurt tubs, tend to warp or melt in the microwave, potentially causing harmful chemicals to leach into your food.
Buy, use and store household chemical products safely
Read the label and follow all instructions for safety, use and disposal. Look for and understand hazard symbols found on the front of household chemical products. Store household chemical products, tightly closed in their original containers. Keep them safely locked away and out of reach and sight of children and pets. Call a poison centre or your health care provider right away if you suspect someone has been harmed by a household chemical product. Keep these products away from food, water sources, and open flames.
Avoid using boric acid while doing arts and crafts
Avoid using boric acid (borax, contact lens solution, eye wash solution) to make slime, dough, putty or modeling clay. Overexposure to boric acid could affect human development and reproduction. To reduce exposure, wash your hands after use and be careful not to get any in your mouth.