Toxins are a part of everyday life now. Here are some hard facts that you must know about toxins that enter our system without our knowledge.

Mosquito repellents: Just check the quality of mosquito repellents used. They could cause problems if not made properly.

Doctors advise that infants, young children, pregnant women and persons with respiratory disorders such as asthma should totally avoid using repellents made of allethrin as it may aggravate their condition and cause allergies.

The best alternative mosquito repellent: Neem oil

Yes! Good old neem oil. According to the buzz in the scientific community, a compound in neem oil is 12 times more effective than commercial repellents. Also neem oil repels not only mosquitoes, but also a wide variety of storage pests. To effectively use it, mix 1 to 2 parts of the oil with 98 to 99 parts of coconut oil and rub all over the body. It's repellent action is guaranteed for 12 hrs, especially against the malaria variety of mosquito. A kerosene lamp with 0.01 to 1% neem oil is equally effective.

Naphthalene Balls:

When it comes to storing off-season clothes, moth balls are our best friends. Their pungent smell not just keeps the pests away, but sometimes even keeps us away and what's more, it should be that way as naphthalene, the principal ingredient in them, is an established carcinogen as of Jan-2001.

It is used as an insect fumigant and also as a toilet disinfectant. When swallowed or inhaled it causes irritation of the skin, eye, respiratory tract and allergic reactions. It may also damage the liver, kidney, blood and the central nervous system.

The alternative: Natural repellents

A simpler way of avoiding these complications is to not to be too dependent on them, and to try out natural repellents.

Progressing on to cleaner things, or rather cleaning things.

Detergents, including those that are phosphate based, are non-biodegradable, in the sense they persist in nature for a really long time, with their toxic nature undeterred.

They enter our water supply through leaching, and also find their way into the food chain by entering the bodies of animals that eat and drink material containing these harmful compounds. Thus, they move up the food chain with higher levels of these compounds in the successive consumers.

The solution is to use environment friendly products such as washing soda, which is hydrated sodium carbonate, a naturally occurring mineral. Borax can also be used, as it brightens all washable fabrics and also costs less than bleach. Given a choice between soaps and detergents, the balance tilts in favour of soaps, as it is the lesser of the two evils.