| The Facts on Household Cleaning Products |
81,000 CHEMICALS REGISTERED WITH THE EPA IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, and fewer than 20% have been tested for toxicity!
FACT: 90% of all poison exposures occur at home
FACT: 218,316 reported poison exposures in 2005 were from household cleaning products
FACT: Indoor pollutants come from all sorts of chemicals we use to make our lives easier every day-paints, carpets, furniture, household cleaners, personal care, among others
FACT: EPA studies indicate that elevated concentration of household chemicals persist in the air. Long-term exposure to chemicals inside our homes may be harmful to us and our families
FACT: Some 20 million Americans have asthma
FACT: An average of one out of every 13 school-aged children has asthma
FACT: Common household cleaners and appliances give off fumes, which can potentially increase the risk of children developing asthma
"We are conducting a vast toxicologic experiment in our society, in which our children and our children's children are the experimental subject." Dr. Herbert Needleman Pediatrician and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
FACT: The average U.S. household generates more than 20 pounds of hazardous waste each year
FACT: The following household cleaning products are designated as household hazardous waste by the EPA, and "improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health"
Oven cleaners
Drain cleaners
Wood and metal cleaners and polishes
Toilet cleaners
Tub, tile, and shower cleaners
Bleach (laundry)
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR SINK?
Chlorine Bleach is the chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings in the U.S.
Degreasers may contain petroleum distillates, which can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue around nerve cells
Glass Cleaners may contain ammonia. Ammonia fumes can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system
Oven Cleaners can be one of the most dangerous cleaning products, which can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mouth, and throat
Toilet Bowl Cleaners can be extremely dangerous cleaning products, which can be harmful just by breathing the fumes-and fatal if swallowed
SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Inhalation is immediately irritating to the respiratory tract
Contact can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth, and throat
Can cause liver and kidney damage
May be found in:
Dishwashing liquids
Laundry products
Oven cleaner
Scouring cleansers
Tub and tile cleaners
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
Can cause severe damage to skin
Can be harmful to health, just by breathing the fumes
Can be fatal if swallowed
May be found in:
Odor eliminators
Toilet bowl cleaners
BUTYL CELLOSOLVE
Can cause irritation and tissue damage from inhalation
A person who spends 15 minutes cleaning scale off shower walls could inhale three times the acute exposure limit
May be found in:
All-purpose cleaners
Cleaning wipes
Degreasers
Floor polish
Rug shampoos
Toilet bowl cleaners
Tub and tile cleaners
Window cleaners
I believe cleaning house shouldn't involve dirtying the earth. Use the following guidelines when selecting your cleaning products:
Sustainable ingredients from natural sources
Biodegradable surfactants
Recyclable packaging
Recyclable wipes
Recyclable dryer sheets
No chlorine bleach
No phosphates
No nitrates
No borates
No volatile organic cleaning compounds
Does not test on animals
To improve the health of your family and the environment, get your Green Starter Kit, as seen on Oprah. Get it at http://www.shaklee.net/carolbelanger/getclean/getstarted/index
Article Source: UnArchived Articles
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