In 1989, the EPA determined the toxic chemicals found in common household cleaners, often dispersed in fumes, are three times more likely to cause cancer than are other air pollutants.
According to the American Cancer Society, prior to the 20th century, only 1 out of 8,000 people in the United States were stricken with cancer. Since the Industrial Revolution the introduction into our lives of a myriad of chemicals, the incidence of cancer has increased to a startling 1 out of 3 people.
Since World War II, we have developed more than 80,000 chemicals for use in cleaners, pesticides, plastics, personal care products, industrial products and other modern day conveniences. We know very little about the effect of these chemicals on a child's development
The Clean Water Fund estimates that the average American uses 40 lbs of unsafe household cleaners each year (multiply that by 245 million Americans)
Only three percent of the carcinogens (known to cause cancer) are known and registered- Cancer is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health effects of chronic low-level exposure to neurotoxin poisons.
The following information is only based off of what is known, not suspected.
All Purpose Cleansers:
Toxicity:
Chlorinated materials can form orgono-chloride compounds, which in turn are stored in the fat cells and can enter mother's milk. Morpholine is very toxic and a liver and kidney poison. Glycol ether, Stoddard solvent, naphtha and kerosene are neurotoxins and central nervous system depressants which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Glycol ether is also a kidney and liver poison. Sodium bromide can cause confusion.
Environmental Impact:
Stoddard solvent, petroleum distillates (naphtha), and very toxic materials such as morpholine are considered hazardous waste and cause pollution. Phosphates cause algae bloom, and chlorinated materials can form other compounds (like DDT), which break down slowly in the ecosystem as pollutants and are stored in the fatty tissues of wildlife. EDTA binds with heavy metals in our lakes and streams and thereby activates the metals. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Deodorizers:
Toxicity:
Methoxychlor is a chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide, which accumulates in fat cells and can enter mother's milk. It is also a neurotoxin and can over stimulate the central nervous system. P-Dichlorobenzene, aromatic hydrocarbons, and naphthalene are central nervous system depressants, which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Salicylates can cause strong allergic reactions and are very toxic. Formaldehyde is assumed to be carcinogenic. Piperonal butixide is a suspected carcinogenic (cause cancer).
Environmental Impact:
Chlorinated materials can form other compounds (like DDT), which break down slowly in the ecosystem. Petroleum distillates, aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, and very toxic materials such as salicylates are considered hazardous waste. Aromatic hydrocarbons contain impurities, which contaminate the air and water. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Dish (handwashing) Detergent:
Toxicity:
Choloro-o-phenylphenol is very toxic and a metabolic stimulant. Diethanolamine is caustic and a possible liver poison. Naphtha is a central nervous system depressant and a neurotoxin, which can cause headaches, lack of concentration, confusion, and symptoms of mental illness.
Environmental Impact:
Complex phosphates cause algae bloom. Naphtha and very toxic materials such as Choro-o-phenylphenol are considered hazardous waste. Chlorinated materials can form organo-chlorine compounds which are pollutants that break down slowly in the ecosystem, and are stored in the fatty tissues of wildlife. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain ipurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Disinfectants:
Toxicity:
Aphtha is a neurotoxin and central nervous system depressant, which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Butyl cellosove is highly toxic and sodium nitrite is extremely toxic. Sodium sulfites can cause death in asthmatics.
Environmental Impact:
Naphtha, sodium hypochrorite, butyl cellusolve, and highly toxic materials are considered hazardous waste. Sodium hypochlorite and chlorinated germicides can also form orano-chlorine compounds (like DDT), which are pollutants that break down slowly in the ecosystem and are stored in the fatty tissues of wildlife. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Furniture Polishes:
Toxicity:
Naphtha, diglycol laurate, amyl acetate, and mineral spirits are neurotoxins and central nervous system depressant, which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Diglycol laurate can also be a liver and kidney poison. Mineral spirits can cause upper respiratory tract irritation and can contain impurities including the carcinogen benzene.
Environmental Impact:
Napthas and mineral spirits are considered hazardous waste. Petroleum-based products such as mineral spirits are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water
Commercial Glass Cleaners:
Toxicity:
Organic solvents, naphtha, and petroleum-based waxes are neurotoxin and central nervous system depressant, which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Organic solvents also commonly contain impurities such as the carcinogen benzene and can cause respiratory irritation. Butyl cellusolve is very toxic. Phosporic acid and ammonia are highly corrosive.
Environmental Impact:
Organic solvents, naphtha, petroleum-based waxes, ammonia and butyl cellusolve are considered hazardous waste. Complex phosphates cause algae bloom. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Laundry Detergent:
Toxicity:
Tetrapotassium pyrophasphate is highly toxic, corrosive and irritating, and is suspected of forming organophosphate properties. Fluosilicate is so toxic it is used as a pesticide. Benzethonium chloride is also highly toxic. Optical brighteners can cause strong allergic reactions when exposed to sunlight.
Environmental Impact:
Complex phosphates cause algae bloom. EDTA binds with heavy metals in our lakes and streams and thereby activates the metals. Optical brighteners can cause mutations in bacteria and no not biodegrade well. Chlorinated materials can form organo-chlorine compounds which break down slowly in the ecosystem as pollutants and are stored in the fatty tissue of wildlife. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Spot Cleaners:
Toxicity:
The ingredients listed are so threatening to heath that spot removers should simply never be used. Many of the ingredients are carcinogenic, suspected of being carcinogenic, neurotoxin, central nervous system depressants, stored in fatty tissues, a cause of respiratory distress, liver and kidney poisons, extremely toxic and corrosive and can cause death.
Environmental Impact:
All the listed ingredients are considered hazardous waste. Chlorinated materials can form other compounds which break down slowly in the ecosystem and become pollutants and are stored in the fatty tissues of wildlife. Petroleum-based products (especially ones as toxic as these) are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Metal Polishes:
Toxicity:
Perchloroethylene, kerosene, naphtha, chromic acid, and organic solvents are neurotoxin and central nervous system depressant which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Perchloroethylene is an assumed carcinogen, a liver and kidney poison, and can cause death. Further, perchloroetheylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon and is stored in the fatty tissue and from there can enter mother's milk. Silver nitrate is highly toxic and corrosive. Chromic acid is extremely toxic, a liver and kidney poison, and a possible carcinogen.
Environmental Impact:
Most of the ingredients of metal polishes are considered hazardous waste. Chlorinated materials can form organo-chlorine compounds, which are pollutants that break down slowly in the ecosystem and are stored in the fatty tissue of wildlife. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Oven Cleaners:
Toxicity:
The above ingredients except Lye are neurotoxin and central nervous system depressant, which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Methylene chloride is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, which is stored in fatty tissue. Further, methylene chloride is a liver and kidney poison. Lye is a corrosive poison. Ether-type solvents can contain impurities including the carcinogen benzene, and can cause respiratory distress.
Environmental Impact:
Ether-type solvents, petroleum distillates, methylene chloride, butyl cellosive, and lye are considered hazardous waste. Chlorinated materials can form organo-chlorine compounds, which are pollutants that break down slowly in the ecosystem and are stored in the fatty tissue of wildlife. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Commercial Toilet Bowl Cleaners:
Toxicity:
Sodium acid oxalate, chlorinated phenols, and o-or-p-Dichlorobenzene are highly toxic. Sodium acid sulfate is highly corrosive. Chlorinated phenols are not only corrosive buy metabolic stimulants. Fungicides can cause liver and kidney damage. O-or-p-Dichloriobenzene is a liver and kidney poison, as well as being a powerful central nervous system depressant which can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness. Germicides can be toxic.
Environmental Impact:
Highly toxic materials like sodium acid oxalate, chlorinated phenols, and o-or-p-Dichlorobenze are considered hazardous waste. Chlorinated materials can form other compounds, which break down slowly in the ecosystem and become pollutants, and are stored in the fatty tissue of wildlife. Petroleum-based products are non-renewable resources, are slow to break down in the environment, and can contain impurities, which contaminate air and water.
Did You Know? The most toxic, most cancerous ingredients in cleaning products do not ever need to be disclosed? This is because the government protects the chemical companies by letting them hid behind their "trade secrets" that they do not have to reveal...
