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People concerned about toxins in the environment are often concerned about what others are doing”factories polluting a local waterway or a power plant’s black smoke bellowing into the skies, for instance. But we, too, are often guilty of bringing potentially harmful substances into the home and carefully reading product labels is a simple way to try and avoid this.

Of course reading labels isn’t necessarily easy. Many products have a lengthy list of ingredients that often have complex chemical names. One strategy than is to avoid such products entirely, instead selecting products that only contain a few recognizable ingredients.

The problem with this strategy is that some chemicals are very useful and may not pose much of a risk. An alternative strategy than is to selectively screen the products you purchase by carefully checking ingredients. There are several to especially watch out for.

Bleach is a skin irritant, is toxic to inhale, and has the potential to form chlorine gas when mixed with ammonia, which is sometimes present in other household products. Released into the environment, it also easily combines with organic matter to form highly toxic organochlorines. Plain soap and water are an effective alternative for general cleaning and hydrogen peroxide can be used as an alternative when doing laundry.

A variety of substances are used as disinfectants, including phenols, hypochlorites, and quaternary ammonium. Many of these substances are toxic and it is questionable whether they are necessary and useful. Consider natural alternatives. Also, be especially careful with aerosols and sprays, since they are more likely to be inhaled or come into contact with skin.

Some other common chemicals to look out for are ammonia, xylene, toulene, and ethylene glycol. It isn-t really necessary to know every chemical out there. Instead, just try and find a handful of products or companies that you are familiar with and trust.