Most people are worried about where they live because of reasons such as proximity to work, school or the grocery store from their homes. Location is a valid reason when determining where you live but there are other more important factors that should go into deciding where you live. One of the main factors that you should consider when choosing the area where you live is pollution.

There are many toxins and pollution in the environment that cause both long and short-term health risks that are not good for us. You're probably going to be spending a lot of time outside and you don't want to be living in a place heavily surrounded by pollution and toxins.

It can also be easy to create a toxic living environment by the things you use in your home. Some of the more common household toxins are polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, mould, phthalates, volatile organic compounds, dioxins, asbestos, chloroform and chlorine. Now, you might be unfamiliar with some of the toxins we just listed but if you were to sweep your floors, you would probably come across any one of the toxins we mentioned in some capacity.

The listed toxins can be found in common items that you use on an everyday basis such as salmon, bug sprays, fruits, vegetables, peanuts, alcohol, plastic wrap, plastic bottles, deodorants, cleaning fluids, air fresheners, floor insulation, and drinking water.

Some of the health risks associated with the toxins we mentioned that could be found in your home can be as minor as skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, sore throats, skin irritation, and fatigue, or as major as cancer, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, birth defects, kidney and liver damage, heart disease, diabetes, and Multiple Sclerosis.

Some of those health risks might not seem like a big deal and you would rather continue using a certain household cleaner with horrid fumes and hazard symbols, just keep in mind some could cause cancer are scary enough to make you second think the food you eat and the air you breathe.

In order to avoid the health risks we mentioned as much as possible we suggest avoiding processed foods, use only natural cleaning products and test your tap water. If you're in the market to buy a new house then you should also ask your real estate agent what local home inspector they recommend to search the property to see what potentially dangerous toxins and pollution are found.