With fall right around the corner, stores and homes are beginning to show signs of Halloween fast approaching. And while it's no secret many stores often jump the gun at putting out fall and Halloween decorations, it's best to be prepared early and do your due diligence. We'll help you enter spooky season, knowing what is safest and healthiest for your home and family.

For instance, did you know many of the traditional decorations and Halloween items found in stores could be potentially harmful to your health? Jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin spice candles, costumes, and other Halloween and fall decorations could all contain harmful chemicals that make their way into your home, your air, and even your skin.

We all want to have a safe, fun, and festive Halloween and fall season, but many traditional Halloween decorations and fall items can pose hazards to our health. This is especially true for anyone suffering from asthma or allergies.

A fright is always fun this time of year, but when it comes to the health of you and your family, it's always best to take precautions. Below, we'll talk about the dangers that come with Halloween costumes, decorations, and more to help you decide which items are right for your home.

Pumpkins -

October is approaching, and with it all things pumpkin. It's all you see in commercials and retail establishments throughout America, the beloved orange fruit so synonymous with the season. It's time for your yearly trip to the farm to pick out your pumpkins and bring them home to carve, where they'll proudly sit sentry on your stoop for the next few weeks. But did you know that when pumpkins are treated improperly, they could bring harmful pollutants into your home?

Despite their beauty during the fall season, it's no secret their festiveness is short-lived, carved or not. Those of us who have left one too many pumpkins on the porch for one too many days past Halloween can attest. Too easily, these festive gourds tend to turn into breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, and insects.

When given the right ingredients, mold can multiply and grow quickly, especially in warm, damp environments like pumpkins. The spores released from moldy old pumpkins can cause unwanted and unpleasant respiratory symptoms in some individuals, most specifically those with asthma and allergies. Symptoms include headaches, sinus pressure, runny noses, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, and even rashes.

Do you despise the idea of celebrating Halloween without a Jack-o-lantern? Here are some tips and tricks to remember when decorating this season:

  • When carving pumpkins, make sure to clear the pulp and seeds from the inside completely. This will help slow down rotting and fermentation.
  • Keep carved pumpkins outside as much as possible. If, for some reason, you need to bring them inside, seal them in plastic wrap and store them somewhere cold to preserve them.
  • Use a cleaning solution like bleach on the outside, inside, and cut edges of your pumpkin to help preserve it for longer and inhibit mold growth. Only do this outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
  • Try to keep any bales of hay and real fallen leaves for outside decoration only, as they are another source of mold and allergies during fall.

Plastic Decorations –

Halloween is nothing if not spooky and festive. Plastic bats, hanging witches' hats, and skeletons galore. Who doesn’t love a faux headstone or lawn ornament or two or four this time of year? Unfortunately, these spooky plastic party accouterments could be producing harmful chemical off-gassing that makes them scarier than you think.

During manufacturing processes, chemicals are often used when it comes to plastics and decorations commonly found at your local retailer. They can cause harmful off-gassing of chemicals and volatile organic compounds if made with them. Off-gassing is a term used to describe when these harmful chemicals leach their gasses into the air.

According to a 2018 Plymouth University study, black plastic products in particular – the color of many Halloween decorations and costumes - can pose a greater health risk than other plastic products. Some are even made with or from recycled materials containing chemicals such as bromine, antimony, and lead, depending on the age of the item.

Thankfully, there are many non-plastic alternatives on the market to help you decorate your home and celebrate the season! A great alternative to plastic products is live orange and red flowers, wreaths, lights, fabric, cloth, or paper garlands and banners. These more natural materials will help you add the perfect amount of festive fall spirit to your home without any chemical fumes. Thrift stores can also be a source of unique vintage decorations made with more natural elements.

Scented Candles –

We all love a good woodfire, apple pie, or pumpkin spice candle to get us in an autumn mindset. Especially earlier in the season when it still feels and looks more like summer. Additionally, a jack-o-lantern wouldn’t be much without his flickering candle-lit eyes. Candles, especially autumn and harvest-scented ones, are some of the most popular items people use to celebrate the season. However, they could be filling your home with more than just the aromas of fall.

Many scented candles, and more specifically cheaper ones, contain a type of wax called paraffin. Paraffin wax is known to release harmful pollutants into the air when burned. Pollutants in paraffin wax include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause serious negative health effects. When inhaled, VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and even nausea. This is a particular problem for anyone sensitive to paraffin or those who have asthma and allergies.

Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you have to forgo your favorite fall scents and moody atmosphere. A recent study found that natural and vegetable-based candles, such as soy or beeswax, don’t produce the same chemicals when burned. And when it comes to lighting up your pumpkins for that extra spooky glow on All Hallows Eve, we recommend the very common and affordable alternative of battery-operated flameless candles as a safer and healthier option.

Halloween Costumes -

Finding the perfect costume can be one of the best parts of Halloween. Be it a walking-dead zombie, a redheaded mermaid, or a Jedi knight, you can probably find exactly what you're looking for in-store or online. However, most of these costumes are mass-produced and stored in plastic bags until you take them home to wear them. This means that the off-gassing from the plastic bags and from any plastic parts of the costume itself won't begin until you take the costume out of its package. One specific study found that many pre-made Halloween costumes and accessories contain harmful pollutants, including flame retardants and phthalates.

  • Flame Retardants - Unfortunately, because of the flammable fabrics act, many pre-made costumes now contain flame retardants. Flame retardants have been known to be endocrine and thyroid disruptors and can have a negative effect on the immune system. In addition, according to the National Institute of Health Sciences, children are particularly at risk of serious negative health effects due to the fact that their bodies are still developing.
  • Phthalates - Phthalates are harmful chemicals used to soften plastics and vinyl to make them more flexible. They are also known to cause endocrine and organ function disruption, which can lead to long-term reproductive health and development issues. The National Institute of Health recommends avoiding phthalates whenever possible and keeping children away from plastic or vinyl products that may contain them.

Another important thing to note is that if you plan on using costumes or clothing items that have been stored in the attic or basement, you should consider washing them or airing them out thoroughly beforehand. They may contain dust and debris as well as mold or dust mite waste that could trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.

Costume Makeup & Face Paints -

It's pretty hard to be a zombie or a vampire without a little effects makeup here and there. Many of the most common and most exciting Halloween costumes require quite a bit of makeup or face paint. And moreover, there are probably not the normal colors you'll find lying around in your makeup bag. It's tempting to just purchase one of the inexpensive makeup kits alongside your costume in any major Halloween store. However, you may want to think twice, as the savings probably aren’t worth the associated health risks of those lower-cost products.

A study back in 2016 found that trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic were found in 21 of the 48 face paints tested. In addition, 20% of the 39 children's makeup items that were tested were found to contain at least one volatile organic compound (VOC). Either way, it's probably best to stick with reputable beauty brands and products that have been dermatologist-tested. Another cheaper and more natural alternative is to try making homemade, non-toxic face paint with water, vegetable oil, flour, and natural coloring.

Breathe Easier This Halloween -

We all want a little scary this time of year, but toxins, pollutants, and allergens shouldn’t be part of it. To protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of contaminants, allergens, and off-gassing, we recommend the following helpful tips:

  • Let new costumes, accessories, and other plastic or vinyl décor items air out in a safe space before using or wearing them.
  • Always make sure you're in a well-ventilated area when using makeup, hair sprays, and bleach to protect your pumpkins.
  • Try using more natural décor, makeup, and costume elements to limit your exposure to harmful pollutants and save on costs.
  • Plan for the colder weather that’s often associated with this season and pack an inhaler or a jacket/sweater for you and your kids before trick or treating begins.
  • It may be prudent to invest in a HEPA and carbon air purifier to help remove any unwanted off-gassing chemicals, fumes, or fall allergens like ragweed from the air.
  • Before you take the goblins and ghouls out to play, check the outdoor air quality in your area on airnow.gov and shorten the outdoor time if the air quality is poor.

Although some of the above information may have brought to light the darker side of Halloween, it doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying the season. With some forethought, planning, and an ounce of creativity, you'll be sure to find new, safe, and healthier ways to celebrate this Hallows Eve. Stay safe, and like always, Trick-or-Treat!