Are You Cleaning Your Health Away
Many household cleaners and detergents contain harmful
ingredients that the manufactures are not coming clean about (pun intended).
Current rules mandate that because of the protection of proprietary information, manufactures need
not put all the ingredients on their labels and only need to warn of immediate
health consequences.
This technicality allows for harmful chemicals to invade
our homes disguised as cleaners, detergents, air fresheners, cosmetics and even
food.
We will discuss the later offenders is subsequent post
but, this article will highlight cleaners, detergents and air fresheners.
The following is an excellent article from Maid Brigade
that highlights the dangers and is worth the time to read it...
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS MAY DO MORE HARM THAN
GOOD
In this age of super-consumption,
marketers have trained us to seek out the brands that that deliver superlative
benefits over the competitors…”the tightest ship in the shipping industry”,
“the ultimate driving machine”, “the greatest show on earth”, “the best a man
can get”. We purchase these items thinking we are getting the most
for our money, which will better our lives in some way. Sometimes more is
notmore. Consider household cleaning products.
“Industrial strength” is one
marketing-infused brand attribute that suggests cleaning products will make our
homes cleaner and that the job will be done faster, or cheaper, or all of the
above. “Industrial strength” tells us the cleaning product is so strong
that it really doesn’t belong in our homes. As consumers we are driven to
want such products simply because we’re technically not supposed to have
them! At least according to the marketers.
The truth is many ingredients in the
common household cleaning products we’ve grown to trust are harmful to our health. As
consumers why would we want such products around us, our families or our
pets? The problem is, most consumers aren’t aware of the hidden dangers
these popular cleaning products present to our health. Nor are they aware how
pervasive these health threats are.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Most products bear the warning “Keep
Out of Reach of Children” in bold type on the label. As consumers, we
believe that if our children don’t ingest these products they will not be
harmed by them. Consider though that the most common methods of exposure are
through the skin and respiratory tract. Children are frequently in contact
with the chemical residues housecleaning products leave behind, by crawling,
lying and sitting on the freshly cleaned floor. Children, especially infants
and toddlers, frequently put their fingers in their mouths and noses,
increasing risks for exposure. When infants eat solid food, how common is
it that the food is placed directly on a high chair tray that has just been
wiped down with a household cleaner or dish detergent? Another factor is
that, pound for pound, childrens’ exposure levels are higher than adults’
because, although the amount of chemicals in an exposure remains equal,
children’s bodies are smaller so the concentration is stronger, essentially.
Also, their immune systems are still developing. Thus, children are
probably the highest risk population for chemical exposures through cleaning
products. For many of these same reasons, pets may also be at
risk. Other populations with a pronounced risk are breast cancer victims,
the elderly, asthma and allergy sufferers and those with compromised immune
systems.
REPEATED EXPOSURE
You may be thinking that the diluted
aspect of off-the-shelf cleaning products reduces or altogether eliminates the
threat of getting sick from your floor polish, window cleaner or air
freshener. However many of the toxins found in these products (and so many
other cleaning products) are bioaccumulative, meaning the chemicals do not
purge easily from the body and over time even mild exposures can add up to
toxic levels. In fact, a medical study recently conducted in Iowa suggests
a correlation between certain occupations and bladder cancer. One of those
occupations was cleaning services. These products are used repeatedly and
routinely in the home to maintain cleanliness, increasing the chances for
bioaccumulation of chemicals in the body.
WHAT MAY BE LURKING UNDER THE KITCHEN
SINK?
Research points to the toxic effects
of not only active but also inactive ingredients – hazards that can affect the central
nervous system, reproductive systems and other vital bodily
systems. Consumers often don’t have the time or know where to go to find
important information about the products they use. To make matters worse,
the information is often presented in highly scientific language that may be
difficult to interpret. But there are a growing number of consumer-friendly
resources that can help us sort through all of this information and understand
what we need to know to make the best possible choices for our families with
regard to household cleaners, disinfectants and polishes.
For starters, the three essential
categories into which most of the hazardous ingredients in household cleaning
products fall are:
1. Carcinogens–
Carcinogens cause cancer and/or promote cancer’s growth.
2. Endocrine disruptors –
Endocrine disruptors mimic human hormones, confusing the body with false
signals. Exposure to endocrine disruptors can lead to numerous health
concerns including reproductive, developmental, growth and behavior
problems. Endocrine disruptors have been linked to reduced fertility,
premature puberty, miscarriage, menstrual problems, challenged immune systems,
abnormal prostate size, ADHD, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and certain cancers.
3. Neurotoxins –
Neurotoxins alter neurons, affecting brain activity, causing a range of
problems from headaches to loss of intellect
TAKING CUES FROM PRODUCT LABELS
Consumers may find it cumbersome or
time-consuming to research all of the ingredients in the cleaning products
under the kitchen sink. Those that wish to will find useful links in the
sidebar to this article. In general however, product warning labels can be
a useful first line of defense. Cleaning products are required by law to
include label warnings if harmful ingredients are included. From safest to
most dangerous, the warning signals are:
Signal Word
|
Toxicity if swallowed, inhaled or
absorbed through the skin*
|
Caution
|
One ounce to a pint may be harmful
or fatal
|
Warning
|
One teaspoon to one ounce may be
harmful or fatal
|
Danger
|
One taste to one teaspoon is fatal
|
*for a 180-pound male
Even products with a cautionary
label, it should be pointed out, may present health risks if used improperly or
with repeated exposures over time. Good ventilation and skin barriers are
very important when using any over-the-counter cleaning product.
WHICH CHEMICAL GROUPS CAUSE CONCERN
IN THE HEALTH COMMUNITY?
We are exposed to countless chemical ingredients in daily life that may be
harmful to our health – too numerous to outline here and beyond the scope of
this article. Consumers should know of some general categories of chemicals
that should be avoided, however. The following list is not all-inclusive.
Pesticides. One of the most counter-intuitive health
threats is that of products that disinfect. Common sense tells us that
killing household germs protects our health. However disinfectants are
pesticides, and the ingredients in pesticides often include carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Pesticides are fat-soluble, making them
difficult to eliminate from the body once ingested. Pesticides, including
disinfectants, may also include alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs).
APEs. APEs act as surfactants, meaning they lower
the surface tension of liquids and help cleaning solutions spread more easily
over the surface to be cleaned and penetrate solids. APEs are found in
detergents, disinfectants, all-purpose cleaners and laundry cleansers.
They are also found in many self-care items including spermicides,
sanitary towels and disposable diapers. APEs are endocrine disruptors.
Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is commonly known as a
preservative. Many people do not know that it is also a germicide, bactericide
and fungicide, among other functions. Formaldehyde is found in household
cleaners and disinfectants. It is also present in nail polish and other
personal care products. Formaldehyde is acarcinogen.
Organochlorines. Organochlorines result from the combination
of hydrogen and carbon. Some types are highly deadly, such as
DDT. OCs are bioaccumulative and also highly persistent in the
environment. OCs are present in pesticides, detergents, de-greasers and
bleaches. OCs are also present in drycleaning fluids. OCs arecarcinogens and endocrine disruptors.
Styrene. Styrene is a naturally occurring substance
derived from the styrax tree. Styrene is most commonly used in the
manufacture of numerous plastics including plastic food wrap, insulated cups,
carpet backing and PVC piping. Styrene is also found in floor waxes and
polishes and metal cleaners. Styrene is a known carcinogen as well as an endocrine disruptor. Exposure may affect the central nervous
system, liver and reproductive system.
Phthalates. Phthalates are most commonly
used in the manufacture of plastics. Phthalates are also used as carriers
for perfumes and air
fresheners and as skin penetration enhancers for products such
as moisturizers. These chemicals are classified as inert and as such no
product-labeling requirements exist for phthalates. They are endocrine disruptors and
suspected carcinogens. Phthalates are known to cause hormonal
abnormalities, thyroid disorders, birth defects and reproductive
problems.
Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are
emitted as gases suspending themselves in the air. VOCs include an array of
chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects,
and are present in perfumes, air fresheners, disinfectants and deodorizers.
VOCs commonly include propane, butane, ethanol, phthalates and/or
formaldehyde. These compounds pose a variety of human health hazards and
collectively are thought to be reproductive toxins, neurotoxins, liver toxins
and carcinogens.
SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE
Symptoms of exposure to these types
of substances include headache, backache, stiff joints, nausea, diarrhea,
asthma or allergy attacks, dizziness, memory loss, stuttering, premature
puberty, low sperm count, reduced motor skills, sudden mood swings, dyslexia,
ADHD, anti-social behavior/autism and birth defects, among others.
CHEMICALS OF INTEREST
To demonstrate an idea of how
pervasive these substances can be under your kitchen sink, 2-butoxyethanolis a good example. Although the signal word for
this chemical is “Danger!”, it is found in no less than 108 household cleaning
products as well as countless auto, hobby/craft and exterior home maintenance
products, according to Household Products Database from the National Library of
Medicine (see inset for web address). Synonyms for this chemical include
butoxyethanol; butyl cellosolve; ethanol, 2-butoxy-; ethylene glycol
mono-n-butyl ether (EGBE); ethylene glycol monobutyl ether; monobutyl ethylene
glycol ether; n-Butoxyethanol. This chemical is an organic solvent, and a
raw material used in the production of phthalates.
According to the Material Safety Data
Sheet from one leading trigger spray cleaner degreaser, exposure to this
chemical is reportedly associated with chronic blood and bone marrow damage. It
affects the central nervous system, blood and blood-forming organs, kidneys,
liver and lymphoid system. It is an eye and skin irritant. Exposure
is generally through the lungs, skin, and mouth with 75% of total exposure
attributable to the skin. Even vapors from this chemical can be absorbed
by the skin. Under existing EPA guidelines, this chemical is considered a neurotoxin and
a possible human carcinogen and
has been found to cause cancer in animal testing. Symptoms of exposure to
2-butoxyethanol include central nervous depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
and prominent headache.
To avoid unnecessary exposure to this
chemical, use rubber gloves when cleaning with products containing
2-butoxyethanol, ventilate the work area well and/or mask the mouth and nose
appropriately. More favorably, avoid products containing this
ingredient. It
is important to stress that even products that may be perceived as healthy
because their names include the words “green”, “citrus”, “lemon” or “orange”
may contain this ingredient. The best
advice is to read the ingredient label rather than trust the product name or
marketing language.
Another harmful ingredient to watch
out for is monoethanolamine, also known as MEA. Other synonyms for this
chemical are Ethanolamine; Ethanol, 2-amino-; 2-Aminoethanol;
2-Hydroxyethanamine.
This chemical is a surfactant and an
emulsifier and can be found in nearly 50 household cleaning products including
floor cleaners, tile and grout cleaners, degreasers, stainless steel cleaners
and laundry detergents. Additionally, this APE is
found in 100 personal care products listed in the Household Products Database,
especially consumer hair coloring products. MEA is also an antihistamine
found in several popular over the counter drugs, the sedating powers of which
are stronger than many barbiturates. As a cleansing ingredient, MEA is
highly corrosive to the skin, potentially even causing bleeding to the exposed
area. Inhalation may cause asthma attacks or damage the respiratory tract or
lungs. MEA is potentially a neurotoxin. Repeated exposure to MEA can damage the
liver and kidneys and has proven toxic in animal lab tests. One leading
global chemical company admits the body of available research is insufficient
to fully determine the health risks for humans.
HOW CAN CONSUMERS MAKE HEALTHIER
CHOICES FOR THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES?
It is truly amazing that all these
harmful ingredients are present in products that are supposed to improve our
quality of life. Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, household
cleaners are the only household products for which manufacturers are NOT
required to list all ingredients. Certain ingredients (such asfragrances) are considered trade secrets and government
regulations are designed to protect proprietary information. Without full
disclosure, consumers can unknowingly submit themselves and their families to
unhealthy exposures to these chemicals.
Taking a greener approach to cleaning
can help you feel better physically. But you’ll probably also feel better
mentally, knowing you are creating a safer environment for yourself, your
family and your pets.
