Harmful Cleaning Chemicals
Every year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers tracks data relating to toxic exposure to cleaning chemicals serious enough to require medical care. In 2007, household cleaning substances were cited as the cause in more than 200,000 cases. Accidental ingestion, mixing of chemicals to form toxic gas and using chemicals in poorly ventilated areas are the most common scenarios for poisoning. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
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Chemicals
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The disinfectant chemicals that kill germs in our homes may prevent us from contracting minor illnesses, but at the same time they accumulate in the fat cells in our bodies, making them hard to flush out. Many of the chemical ingredients found in disinfectants are known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Pesticides are also often found in air fresheners.
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Alkylphenolethoxylates
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Alkylphenolethoxylates are added to cleaning solutions to make the products spread out over surfaces and penetrate into solids. Alkylphenolethoxylates are found in all kinds of detergents, cleansers and disinfectants, plus disposable diapers and sanitary napkins. The World Health Organization has identified alkylphenolethoxylates as an unclassified carcinogen and suspected endocrine disruptor.
Formaldehyde
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Formaldehyde is a common toxic chemical used in everything from shampoo to toilet cleaner, and is often an ingredient in personal care products like nail polish. Exposure can result in irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, breathing difficulty and nosebleeds. In more severe cases, it may cause nausea and vomiting, severe headaches or trigger asthma attacks. Formaldehyde is another known carcinogen.
Bleach
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Bleach is one of the most common causes of poisoning. Mixing bleach with ammonia or acid toilet bowl cleaners can produce potentially fatal fumes. Alone, it's a corrosive strong enough to burn skin or cause pulmonary edema or induce a coma if ingested.
Organochlorines
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Organochlorines are a chemical compound resulting from the combination of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. They accumulate in the fat cells of the body. Some have been found to be endocrine disruptors and some are carcinogenic. Some bleaches, detergents, degreasers and pesticides contain organochlorines. They are also commonly found in dry-cleaning fluids.
Alternatives and Suggestions
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Avoid scented products. The chemicals used to create that clean smell are often toxic. Also, check the labels on cleaning supplies. If the warning on the label is stronger than a simple "caution," consider another product. Some reliable homemade cleaners can be made using non-toxic products such as baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar and borax.
References
- Photo Credit "Our room at the Winn #2" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: MoToMo under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
