To many people, however, that first breath of "new smell" equates to dizziness, nausea, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. Others may not react as strongly, but the chemicals emitting those smells affect all people who are exposed to them at any length.

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) Are in the Air

That new smell whiff comes from VOCs, which are in many of the following materials:

Carpeting Vinyl flooring

Pressed wood Furniture

Upholstery Paint

Varnish Treated wood

Fiberglass insulation Solvents

Adhesives Nail polish remover

Air fresheners Gasoline

Mothballs Cosmetics

Insect killer Cleaning products

VOCs include a variety of chemicals, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and tuolene, found in adhesives in carpeting. The new smell lingers in the air for quite some time as the gases continue to slowly release. This process is called outgassing or off-gassing, and it's another good reason to keep your home well ventilated.

Eventually, all of the VOCs dissipate - in anywhere from three months to five years or more. But in the meantime, they're known to cause both short- and long-term adverse effects ranging from eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; and nausea. They also damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Some VOCs are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

Pointing the Finger at the Top Suspects

Indoor air quality can get worse when you have a mix of chemicals within the confines of your house - the combination of those chemicals can create other toxic compounds. Some of the known offenders are

• Ammonia: A common cleaning agent in toilet bowl cleaners and all-purpose sprays, ammonia is regulated by protective agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

• Chlorine bleach: Found in laundry bleach, dishwasher detergent, scouring powders, and tub and tile cleaners, chlorine bleach is a byproduct of chlorine, listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant. It's on the EPA's Community Right-to-Know list as well. In 1993, the American Public Health Association issued a resolution calling for the gradual phase-out of most chlorine-based compounds.

• Synthetic solvents: These chemicals appear in all-purpose cleaners, window sprays, floor strippers, degreasers, and oven, metal, and carpet cleaners under an alphabet soup of names, including ethyl cellosolve, ethylene glycol, ethylene dichloride, butyl cellosolve, and 2-butoxyethanol. Ethylene glycol, for example, is found in everything from window cleaners to antifreeze and is listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant and in the EPA's Community Right-to-Know list.

• Formaldehyde: Conventional deodorizers, disinfectants, and germicides can contain this compound that is common in household products such as adhesives, permanent press fabrics, particle board, and many others. The EPA has classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen.

• Optical brighteners: These synthetic chemicals in laundry detergents make clothes appear whiter but don't actually make them cleaner. They're toxic to fish when washed into the general environment and can create bacterial mutations. Optical brighteners also can cause allergic reaction when in contact with skin that is then exposed to sunlight.

• Phosphates: Although phased out of laundry detergents and other cleaners in some states, phosphates are still added to some automatic dish detergents to soften water. When released into the household wastewater, phosphates encourage certain algae to grow, which then upsets the ecosystem balance, killing many forms of water life.

• Perchloroethylene: Perc is the chemical used in the dry-cleaning process, but it's also found in spot cleaners and degreasers. Classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the EPA and a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it's also a primary groundwater contaminant.

Other chemicals, including phthalates and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), have raised controversy as some studies have linked them to cancer and diseases of the reproductive system. Phthalates, a common component of plastic and a petroleum derivative, are commonly contained in fragrance additives, and APEs are often found in detergents, fabric softeners, and products that foam.

Going Beyond the Ingredients List

Don't bother pulling out your reading glasses: Even if you know which ingredients to avoid, don't expect to find them listed on most cleaning products.  ....read more