Is My Home Toxic?
Cleaning, to some degree, is a fact of life
Cleaning, to some degree, is a fact of life. The place we call home needs cleaning on a somewhat regular basis, which necessitates purchasing products that do the job. So what is green cleaning and why should we care about it, particularly in the face of what seems like daunting environmental issues such as climate change and a diminishing global supply of fresh water?
What is Green Cleaning?
Green cleaning means cleaning to protect health without harming the environment. And we should care about it because many conventional cleaning products pollute the air in our homes, and contain chemicals linked to adverse health effects.
- There are roughly 80,000 chemicals used in commerce today. Of those, only 2 percent have been tested and found to be safe for human exposure. To put it another way, 78,000 synthetic chemicals have not been tested for safety. (Also worth noting is that most exposure standards are based on a 180-pound male.)
- Manufacturers of cleaning products are not required to list all product ingredients on the label, and most manufacturers don't. Consequently, it becomes impossible to make informed decisions about a given product's safety or lack there of.
- A few common ingredients in conventional household cleaning products include chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), artificial fragrance, and phthalates. Exposure to these ingredients is associated with respiratory and skin irritation, organ damage, endocrine, immune and reproductive system disorders, and cancer.
DOES ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALWAYS MEAN IT IS SAFE FOR PEOPLE?
This is one of the most common misconceptions about "green" cleaning products. Just because a product biodegrades does not mean that it is safe around people and pets. Take Poison Ivy, for example. Poison Ivy is a plant, it is natural, it is biodegradable and has no negative effects on marine life. However, I would not recommend bringing it in your home or having it contact your skin!
THE TRUTH ABOUT LABEL REGULATION IN CLEANING PRODUCTS
There is a growing concern about the safety of household cleaning products. However, because manufacturers are not required to list ingredients it makes it very difficult for the consumer to fully evaluate which products are the safest to use in their home. If the manufacturer does include an ingredient statement it is voluntary and in many cases this disclosure is inaccurate and incomplete.
-Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, household cleaners are the only household products for which manufacturers are NOT required to list all ingredients.
WHAT IS AN ETHOXYLATE AND WHY IS IT BAD?
Ethoxyates are a class of synthetic (based on petroleum), surfactants used in a wide variety of detergents, disinfectants and household cleaners. They are also used in disposable diapers, wipes, and spermicides. These chemicals get between dirt and surfaces (like a kitchen counter, fabric or even human skin) allowing water to more easily wash away dirt. Unfortunately, these surfactants can be hazardous to both you and the environment.
AREN'T HOMEMADE CLEANERS THE BEST CHOICE FOR MY FAMILY?
There are several things that you should consider when making your own cleaning products. These "homemade" cleaning products lack performance testing, safety testing and product directions. They have not been tested and approved compatible for specific surfaces to be cleaned. Homemade cleaners are often mixed with commercial cleaners (like dish soap or borax) that they may not be compatible with. Often these homemade remedies are inconvenient and ineffective causing you to work harder with fewer results. They are unstable and need to be used immediately after making them otherwise they will spoil (grow bacteria, yeasts and mold).
FRAGRANCES
Avoid unnecessary exposure to fragranced products that can trigger asthma and allergic reactions. Use unscented or naturally lightly-scented products for cleaning.
Beyond what they do to our health, chemical-based cleaners pollute whole ecosystems too proving toxic to aquatic animals and fish. For example, Phosphates, the water-softening mineral additives used in most dishwasher detergents, over-nutrify waterways, causing algae to grow profusely. Overabundance of algae deprives fish of oxygen and results in declining populations.
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
When buying personal care products, such as shampoo, soap, lotion, or shaving cream, avoid products with phthaltes or parabens. The word fragrance on a product label is generally an indication that phthalates are inside. Parabens, used to extend the shelf life of a product, are implicated in reproductive disorders in numerous studies.
Both parabens and phthalates are hormone disruptors. Hormone disruptors can alter the normal function of the endocrine system by blocking or mimicking hormones; adverse biological affects can include reproductive system problems, increased odds of certain cancer and early onset of puberty. As is the case with most chemical exposures, children are uniquely vulnerable to these adverse health affects.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
* Numerous air-quality studies have confirmed that indoor air quality is two to five times worse than the quality of the air outdoors
* One effective way to improve the quality of the air in our home is through the use of houseplants. A study conducted by NASA in the late 1980's concluded that the plants shown in the table below are effective at removing common indoor pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
by: Beth Koritz
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