4 Surprising Everyday Items That Can Hurt Your Health

Toys and everyday products from popular dollar stores can sure save you money. But could the savings come at the expense of your health and that of those who love?

To answer that question,researchers recently tested 164 products purchased at the four largest U.S. dollar store chains, including Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and 99 Cents Only, for questionable chemicals, including lead, phthalates, and polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl). The alarming result:  more than 80 percent of the products tested contained at least one hazardous chemical above safe levels. Children are most at risk.

Phthalates—used in many inks, paints, and other materials—may interfere with the body’s hormone system, causing birth defects, reduced fertility, prostate and testicular cancer, learning disabilities, asthma and allergies, and diabetes. Lead, which is often used in PVC and to produce metal products like jewelry, harms brain development. It’s linked to learning disabilities, lower IQ, and behavior and attention problems. Present in many plastics, PVC releases harmful chemicals, such as mercury, vinyl chloride, and dioxins. These chemicals are linked to everything from liver damage to cancer.

To find safe alternatives to these consumer goods, go toGoodGuide.com, which evaluates a variety of consumer products and companies, andHealthyStuff.org, featuring health rankings for over 5,000 products.

4. Anti-bacterial soaps

Antibacterial soaps might promise to germ-proof your home or workplace. However, the risks associated with regular, long-term use of these products could outweigh any benefits, especially if the product contains chemical ingredients like triclosan and triclocarban, which can have unwanted hormonal effects.

Animal studies show that triclosan interferes with the body’s regulation of thyroid hormone, which could contribute to infertility, early puberty, obesity, and cancer in humans. And research shows that long-term exposure to the chemical may increase the children’s allergy risk.

Another potential problem: “Some have theorized that antibacterial soaps might contribute to increasing antimicrobial resistance, but more studies are needed to know if this is the case,” says Melissa Brower of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion of the Centers for Disease Control. “In the meantime, we like to point out that good old-fashioned soap and water are just as effective with less potential for harm.”  

Read more from Grandparents.com:

How To Tell If You Have a Thyroid Problem

5 Vitamins You Should Probably Take Daily

Skin Tags, Moles, and Other Weird Skin Bumps, Explained

Also on HuffPost: