Advances in science, particularly chemistry, have produced an incredible range of compounds that are new to the biological world. They’ve also isolated and concentrated naturally occurring substances that previously had existed in trace amounts.

Many of these substances are benign or non-reactive. However, some are not. When plant or animal tissue comes into contact with a substance it will accept, reject or ignore it. The problems come when the rejection takes the form of a serious reaction.

Our sensitivities to foods, chemicals and other substances differ from individual to individual. It can often be hard to predict exactly which products may trigger a reaction. People who know that they have sensitive skin or breathing difficulties can avoid “the usual suspects”, substances that commonly cause irritation such as optical brighteners in laundry products. For other products, some will trigger reactions, some won’t. Unfortunately, it can be a case of trial and error to find those that you are able to use.

However, there are chemicals that are freely and readily available from supermarket shelves that are bad for our health and the health of the planet, particularly if not handled with caution. Many should be avoided altogether.

Think before you buy! Don’t limit your consideration to just your own or your family’s health. Remember that the health of plants, animals and the broader environment may be at risk during the production of the product before you buy it and it’s disposal after you’ve used it. For example, you may be able to wash chemicals down the drain and out of your house, but think about the aquatic life in our waterways that then get stuck with polluted water!

• Don’t buy laundry products that contain phosphates. Phosphorous chemicals in conventional detergents contribute to the build up of weeds and algal slime in our waterways. These choke other aquatic life by using up the available oxygen.

• Don’t buy chlorine bleaches. Instead look for bleaches or soak-aids that use oxygen based bleaches, such as sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate.

• Find less toxic alternatives to fertilisers, anti-flea rinses and other pesticides that contain harmful chemicals. These soak into the ground and wash into waterways or sewage treatment plants.

Be especially wary of products containing Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos or any other anti -cholinesterase chemical, as they are highly toxic. If you do have these products make sure you follow the safety instructions and do not let children use them.

• Consider buying organic products. Organic products are grown without the use of synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. As well as fresh fruit and vegetables, there are now ranges of organic baby food, sugar, flour, and canned fruit and vegetables available at some of the larger supermarkets around Australia.

If you want to ease into buying organic fruit and vegetables start buy buying enough for your children to give them a good start in life. Alternatively, substitute conventionally farmed fruit and veges for organic for those with a large surface area, such as broccoli, cauliflower and grapes. The more surface area an edible plant has the more pesticide residue it will have on its surface.

• Take care with fragrances. Many breathing difficulties are caused by the fragrances added to cleaning products, toiletries and air fresheners. If you have asthma or sensitive lungs don’t buy air fresheners.