10 Household Products from the Past That Were Surprisingly Unsafe
Many household items have been made over the years with good intentions, making life easier or cleaner. However, as time passed, it became clear that some of these products were far from safe, either because they contained harmful ingredients or had bad side effects. We'll look at 10 household items from the past that were once thought to be necessary but are now remembered for the dangers they posed.
- Tricia Quitales
- 4 min read
Over the years, many household items have been sold as necessary for daily life, but later studies have shown that they are actually harmful. Some had chemicals that were bad for you, and others were dangerous to your health and the environment in ways you didn’t expect. In spite of being very popular, these 10 household items from the past were actually very dangerous.
1. Radium Luminous Paint
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In the early 1900s, radium was used to make paint that made clocks, watches, and other household items glow. Its bright light made it easy to read at night. However, radium was later banned because long-term exposure to it caused serious health problems, such as radiation poisoning.
2. Lead-Based Paint
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Lead-based paint was a popular way to color walls and toys because it lasts a long time and leaves a bright finish. Years later, people didn’t realize that lead poisoning and developmental delays were just two of the serious health problems that lead exposure could cause, especially in children. Even though lead-based paints were banned in the 1970s, there are still risks in older homes.
3. DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
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In the middle of the 20th century, DDT was often used to kill insects in homes and on crops. DDT worked well at getting rid of pests, but scientists later found it harmful to people and animals, giving them cancer and hurting the environment. In the 1970s, when many people learned about how dangerous it was, it was banned in many countries.
4. Asbestos Insulation
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Because it doesn’t catch fire easily, asbestos was used extensively in insulation, roofing, and flooring. Sadly, it was later linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma, among other serious lung problems. Asbestos was eventually banned in buildings, but this dangerous material is still found in some older homes.
5. Mercury Thermometers
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Many people used mercury thermometers to check their body temperatures and even as weather stations in their homes. Even though they were accurate, mercury thermometers were very dangerous to your health if they broke. After people got sick from mercury poisoning, they were replaced with safer digital thermometers.
6. Formaldehyde in Cleaning Products
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Formaldehyde was often found in air fresheners and household cleaners because it was effective at killing germs. Later, it was found that formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and lungs and is known to cause cancer. Many cleaning products that used to contain formaldehyde have been changed so that they no longer do.
7. Ammonia-Based Cleaning Products
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Ammonia used to be an important part of many household cleaners because it was so effective. Even though it works, breathing in large amounts can irritate the lungs and cause problems. Since better cleaning products are now on the market, ammonia-based ones are used less often and with more care.
8. Chlorine Bleach
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Bleach with chlorine has long been used to clean and whiten clothes. It kills bacteria well, but the strong fumes can hurt your lungs, eyes, and skin. As more people try to avoid chlorine bleach, safer alternatives like oxygen bleach and cleaners with enzymes have become more popular.
9. Ozone-Depleting Aerosols
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Aerosol sprays were used to apply everything from air fresheners to deodorants. Many of these products were subsequently linked to the depletion of the ozone layer. Therefore, aerosols were removed from aerosol products and replaced with safer propellants.
10. Perfumed Talcum Powder
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Because it can soak up water, talcum powder is often used for personal hygiene and baby care. Sadly, it was later found to cause ovarian cancer in people who used it often on certain parts of their bodies. Because of this worry, many products were changed so they didn’t contain talc, or new ingredients were added that would give the same benefits without the risk.