Mark Schapiro, author of the book, “Exposed” is examining the home of Laura Hawkins Smith, checking out what potential toxins may lurk.

First, her bathroom. A lot of nail polishes have dibutol phthalates .

It's perfectly legal and common to sell nail polish with this chemical here in America.

“In Europe, the health authorities say no carcinogens, no muteness, no reproductive toxins. In the United States, nothing. No regulatory power to take that kind of action, says Schapiro.

Next Mark goes to the TV room where we find out may have a group of potential toxins all its own.

“This television most likely has a brominates flame retardant,” says Schapiro.

And Schapiro says its dust emanates from the appliances and gets into our systems.

“A number of studies have been done comparing the blood of Americans and Europeans and americans have a lot more of these brominates flame-retardants in their blood than Europeans do,” he says.

Now to the rooms of our most vulnerable family members, our kids.

Many plastic toys here in the U.S. contain phthalates, a compound used to make toys soft and malleable. Mark says there are many studies that show the compound can affect our neurology and that's why it's banned in the E.U.

“A toy like this, a doll exactly like this in your imaginary home in Paris or wherever you might be in the E.U. would not have that substance,” says Schapiro.

Schapiro says our government is way behind the eight ball when it comes to banning these chemicals.

“We haven't banned a single chemical by the EPA in the United States for 15 years. Not a single chemical while much of the world is beginning to look at the data and the evidence and saying hold on here we don't want our people exposed to these substances,” he says.

The toy industry has issued a statement regarding phthalates. They say children's safety is their top priority and "there is simply no solid, scientific evidence that any person has ever been harmed by the presence of phthalates in toys. In fact, there is considerable evidence to the contrary."

We also received a statement from the consumer electronics association. They say: "consumer electronics products that include flame retardants have been effective in reducing harmful fires. Manufacturers always strive to use the safest and most effective components in their products."