Your home may be your retreat from the demands of life, but it is also a place where many potential health hazards may exist. The problem is that many of these hazards are latent and remain undiscovered until it is too late. Here are six health hazards that are commonly found in homes:

Mold and Fungus

Mold and fungus thrive in any area of your house that is damp, somewhat warm and poorly ventilated. They produce a musty smell that can quickly overpower the scents of the products you use to freshen your home’s air. Inhaling or ingesting either mold or fungus could expose you to unwanted bacteria, causing respiratory distress and other nasty symptoms. Make sure you test areas you think may have mold problems before it starts affecting your health. It is often found in basements and bathrooms that are poorly ventilated.

Insects, Rodents and Other Pests

Some pests, like cockroaches and mice, are small, crafty and durable enough to survive your efforts to keep them outside. If mousetraps or bug bombs do not do the trick, you will need to find other ways to eradicate these unwanted intruders from your home quickly and efficiently, suggests Levittown pest control professionals. Call a professional who knows what they are doing to find the source of the problem. It is said that if you find just one mouse in your home, there are plenty more in the area that you just haven’t seen yet.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide’s most dangerous trait is its lack of taste or smell. This dangerous gas will eventually cause flu-like symptoms if you inhale enough of it, and can even cause death if you are exposed to it for a long enough period of time. Common sources of carbon monoxide include fireplaces, wood stoves, vehicle exhaust and old appliances. Make sure you are aware of carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, and purchase a detector to alert your family if high levels of carbon monoxide are found in your home.

Lead

If your house was built before or during the 1970s, odds are good that there is some sort of lead-based product, most likely paint, in it that you need to remove as soon as you possibly can. Lead is a highly toxic metal that has been linked to serious developmental and nerve disorders. This is especially important if you find that your paint is peeling or there are cracks in the wall. Never try to cover the damage with new paint. You may need a professional to help you start over and get rid of all the old paint.

Cleaning Chemicals

Take a close look at the products you use to clean your home’s various surfaces. You will probably find that most of their labels warn you about the dangers of ingesting them, instructing you to call 911 in the event that ingestion occurs. Ditch the dangerous chemicals and opt instead for environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.

Prescription Medications

Prescription medications are especially dangerous when small children live in your home or visit it frequently. Make sure to store them out of the youngsters’ reach and, if you are done with them, take them to a local drug drop-off site. Although it may not be a risk for you, others in your home may find their way to these medications that could be very dangerous to them.

You can improve your family’s health and keep your mind at ease when you are prepared to handle these potentially harmful things in home. If you find that any of the above are problems in your home, take care of it immediately and use better precautions to make sure it doesn’t put your family’s health at risk again.