[TylerE]

> For me, it’s because I have no idea what new previously “unknown” contamination will be next discovered, and would rather get out as much as is reasonable.

This really resonates with where my thinking has gone. While I always try to be guided by science, my default these days is much closer to "assume it isn't safe" than "assume it is". I've got multiple chronic medical conditions that me both more susceptible to getting to sick, and more likely to have complications/have a slow recovery if I do. So for instance, I keep (medical grade) gloves at home and wear them when using any sort of cleaning chemicals. My skin is fragile anyway, and almost any sort of solvent (that isn't water) is at least somewhat bad for you, either short or long term.

[mrtesthah]

> So for instance, I keep (medical grade) gloves at home and wear them when using any sort of cleaning chemicals.

Most of the risk is from the VOCs:

https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2023/09/clean...

[krs_]

Authorative as they may sound, EWG is not a good source to rely on.

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4623

[TylerE]

Not surprsing. I'll also mask (N95, yeah something with a carbon filter would be even better) for the heavy stuff and always go fragrance-free if possible, which is something the article mentions.

[namibj]

There are smog masks from Asia where it's almost needed to be outside in many major metro areas; they use a cloth carrier with a laminated inlay of N95-like particle and activated carbon VOC filtering.

[graeme]

Unfortunately N95s don’t stop VOCs in the slightest, as VOCs aren’t particulates.

The best option is to turn on the bathroom fan and open a window, or use activated carbon.

[nicolas_t]

I do the same (gloves, n95, plastic glasses to protect the eyes) plus honestly I’ve always been very bothered by any sort of artificial fragrances.