Most of us have grown up using various cleaning products and don't normally think of them as containing toxins. However, cleaning products are often major contributors to the toxicity of your home. They are the only household products that are regulated under the 1960 Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act. It is difficult to determine exactly how hazardous cleaning products are, since they are not required to disclose ingredients, however, some of the most common toxic ingredient they contain include ammonia, artificial fragrances, chlorine, petroleum distillates like toluene, xylene and benzene, and phenols. We will discuss each of these further in the following paragraphs.
Ammonia
Ammonia is commonly used to disinfect and clean windows, toilets and more, however, it can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory passages, is very toxic when inhaled in concentrated form, and can affect ecosystems leading to adverse effects to plants, animals and fish. Ammonia is often found in:
glass cleaners
all-purpose cleaners
disinfectants
Glass windows can be effectively* cleaned with just a spray bottle filled with:
1) Club Soda, OR
2) A 50/50 Solution of Vinegar and Water
Many natural cleaning companies now also have very effective, non-toxic glass cleaner sprays that you can purchase already made, such as Biokleen and Seventh Generation.
(*Note: If you have been cleaning windows with commercial products for a while, you may have some wax build-up that needs to be removed with a little rubbing alcohol before you can use the above solutions effectively).
Artificial Fragrances
Most fragrances used today are created in labs and are derived in large part from petrochemicals. Some are carcinogenic, and others contain or release formaldehyde. They often cause headaches, skin irritation, nausea and allergies. Artificial fragrances are prevalent in the following products:
cosmetics
personal care products like shampoos, lotion and creams
various conventional cleaning products
Chlorine
Chlorine is one of the most heavily used chemicals today, despite a 1993 resolution by the American Public Health Association urging the American industry to stop using chlorine. Chlorine causes the most poisonings in our homes each year in the U.S. There is growing evidence that chlorinated drinking water causes bladder and rectal cancer. Chlorine can irritate the lungs, damage skin, eyes and other membranes. Chlorine is listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant. It is found in the following products:
paper towels
toilet paper
tissue
dishwasher detergent
laundry bleach
tub and tile cleaners
Petroleum Distillates
Petroleum distillates include toluene, xylene and benzene are found in many home cleaning products. They are skin, respiratory and eye irritants, and many of them are carcinogenic. Toluene, for example, is regulated in our drinking water by the EPA, who has stated that excess amounts can cause minor nervous system disorders such as nausea, fatigue and confusion. The EPA has also stated that toluene may cause problems with memory, vision and coordination as well as liver and kidney damage at higher exposure levels which may occur from accumulation during a lifetime.
The cleaning products they are often contained in include:
laundry stain removers
pesticides
furniture polish
Phenols
Phenols are another common ingredient in many of our home cleaning products today, even though they can cause swelling and hives, and are suspected carcinogens. Studies have also shown they can cause developmental toxicity as well as male and female reproductive toxicity. There is a high level of concern about phenol toxicity among scientists because they are so prevalent in our environment and products today. They are found in:
plastics
laundry detergents
disinfectants
all-purpose cleaners
furniture polish.
Most of us have been conditioned to believe that we must use powerful chemical disinfectants such as bleach, pine and ammonia cleaners to really clean. The truth is, hazardous disinfectants are not necessary to effectively clean. Biokleen, Seventh Generation, Ecover and other natural cleaning product manufacturers offer safe, non-toxic, natural, effective alternatives for all your cleaning tasks. So you really need to ask yourself if it is worth it to expose you and your loved ones to all these chemicals day after day after day when you clean your home and laundry.
Copyright, 2008, Karen Pijuan. Article may be copied in its entirety if all links remain intact, including those found in the author or resource box.
