How to Know if a Product is Toxic

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By HS Schulte
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Many people are becoming aware of the toxicity of daily products like household cleaners, cosmetics, detergents and lawn chemicals. People are asking what they can do to live greener and which products aren't toxic. There are a few simple methods for assessing toxicity that everyone should know about.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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Step 1

Read the Label. Products are required by law to list their health hazards, but people often don’t read, or don’t understand them. Now, you will know how to be an informed consumer.
Step 2

Understand the Warning Label:

DANGER or POISON: These products are the most toxic. Often, they will indicate they are fatal if swallowed. These products often include anti-freeze, cleaning products and insecticides.

WARNING: These products can also be fatal, but are not as toxic as the previous category. You should seek medical attention if these products are used improperly.

CAUTION: These products are general not fatal if swallowed or inhaled, but in high doses are toxic and may warrant a trip to the doctor.

NONE: If there are no caution or warning labels, the product is non-toxic. Make a habit of looking. You will be surprised how many times a day you are exposed to toxic, deadly, cancer causing, polluting, or asthma causing products.
Step 3

Get to know the EWG:
The Environmental Work Group (EWG) is a non-profit organization in Washington D.C. They have supported innovated studies to learn about the effects of toxic products on the land and public health. The EWG is a wealth of statistical data that everyone needs to make informed choices. Their link is at the bottom of this article. A few of their most common studies include: Pollution in People, The Shopper’s Guide to Produce, Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database, and the Tuna Calculator: How Much is Safe?