Marla Ahlgrimm Cautions Readers about Dangerous Household Chemicals

Marla AhlgrimmItems like countertop cleaners, hand soaps, home cleaning products and shampoos are household staples that may be troubling to a person’s health, according to women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. Many of these household staples contain chemicals that may be of concerns to children and adults alike. In order to guide the Community Blog Online audience, Marla Ahlgrimm recently offered information about products that may contain harsh chemicals.

Community Blog Online: Good morning to you, and welcome Marla Ahlgrimm!

Marla Ahlgrimm: Hello, how are you?

Community Blog Online: It’s a beautiful day so far. We’re here to talk about a troubling issue in many homes: household chemicals.

Marla Ahlgrimm: With the right amount of research, people can make the right decisions for the health and safety of their families.

Community Blog Online: To give greater insight to our readers, what are the typical household chemicals in today’s homes?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Common examples in many homes and places of business would include soap, insect repellent, drain cleaner, detergent, bleach, ammonia and air freshener.

Community Blog Online: What are parabens?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Used as a preservative in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, parabens are a specific class of chemicals.

Community Blog Online: Where else might you find parabens?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Parabens may be found in deodorants, creams and lotions.

Community Blog Online: Are there particular elements that people should be concerned about?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Let’s focus on two types of chemicals that are especially concerning: parabens and formaldehyde.

Community Blog Online: First of all, parabens.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Parabens include ethyl, butyl, propyl and methyl.

Community Blog Online: Could you offer a few examples of parabens?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Think about makeup, moisturizers, personal lubricants and shaving gels. All of these items contain parabens.

Community Blog Online: What is so worrisome about parabens in terms of health and wellness?

Marla Ahlgrimm: In many people, parabens cause allergic reactions or dermatitis.

Community Blog Online: That’s certainly a problem…

Marla Ahlgrimm: Indeed.

Community Blog Online: In terms of general health, what other chemicals should people avoid while performing their daily activities?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Formaldehyde is potentially dangerous when people come directly in contact with it.

Community Blog Online: What common household products might contain formaldehyde?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Formaldehyde could be found in fingernail polishes, shower gel, conditioner, shampoo, chemical hair straighteners and lotions.

Community Blog Online: Which issues might arise from regular contact with formaldehyde?

Marla Ahlgrimm: For many individuals, this chemical may result in headaches, nausea and sore throat, among other side effects.

Community Blog Online: This has all been highly informative. Thanks again!

Marla Ahlgrimm: I’m certainly glad to be of assistance and appreciate the opportunity.

As a pharmacist for over four decades, Marla Ahlgrimm has a firm grasp on personal health and continues to educate people on how to better take care of themselves through nutrition, exercise and other core lifestyle elements. In order to collect further knowledge about these topics, Marla Ahlgrimm is part of an active network of women’s health leaders.