Poisons Under Your Sink: Hidden Dangers of Cleaning Products
by Glenn Beach
The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) has
recorded many exposures to household cleaning substances that were
serious enough to require treatment in a health care facility.
Incredibly, according to the AAPCC the largest number of occurrences
of poisoning in 1993 were due to cleaning products - drain cleaners,
toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, soaps and detergents.
One Million poisonings in Canada each year are due to household
cleaner ingestion. Some are fatal. Thousands of children and adults
are permanently disfigured or injured through contact with chemicals
in the home each year.
Our pets are also at risk. Animals that don't have access to clean,
fresh water are more likely to drink out of puddles, gutters, toilet
bowls, or any old container left sitting around with a liquid in
it. Even though my cats always have access to clean water in a
bowl, they seem to prefer the toilet, the sink, the bathtub, or even
a basin with cleaning solution in it.
Here is an alphabetical list of some of the most hazardous cleansers
found around the house:
AIR FRESHENERS: interfere with your ability to smell by releasing
nerve-deadening agents or coating nasal passages with an oil film,
usually methoxychlor, a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells.
Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener are formaldehyde, a
highly toxic, known carcinogen, and phenol. When phenol touches
your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in
hives.
AMMONIA: is a very volatile chemical and is very damaging to your
eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain triclosan, which is absorbed
through the skin and can be tied to liver damage.
BLEACH: is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin,
eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting
and coma if ingested. Never mix bleach with acid toilet bowl
cleaners or ammonia. These mixtures may produce fumes which can be
DEADLY.
CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over
power the stain itself; they accomplish the task but not without
using highly toxic substances. Some include perchlorethylene, a
known carcinogen that damages liver, kidney and nervous system
damage; and ammonium hydroxide, a corrosive, extremely irritable to
eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
CHLORINE: The first agent of chemical warfare was chlorine. WWII
ended with an abundance of this cheap chemical. In the name of huge
profits, it was added to our water supply and many other products.
Chlorine is the number one cause of breast cancer and can be lethal.
Scientists won't handle chlorine without protective gloves,
facemasks, and ventilation, yet it is in most store-brand cleaners,
including dishwasher detergents. The harmful effects are intensified
when the fumes are heated, as in the shower. It Ýs in our drinking
water, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, and more.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form
that is highly concentrated. The #1 cause of household poisoning is
dish detergent. Dishwashing liquids are labelled "harmful if
swallowed." Each time you wash your dishes, some residue is left
on them, which accumulates with each washing. Your food picks up
part of the residue -- especially if your meal is hot when you eat
it.
FURNITURE POLISH: contain petroleum distillates, which are highly
flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. They contain
nitrobenzene, which is easily absorbed through the skin and
extremely toxic.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Laundry detergents contain phosphorus,
enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and
countless other chemicals. These substances can cause rashes,
itches, allergies, sinus problems and more. The residue left on your
clothes, bed sheets, etc. is absorbed through your skin, as is
everything else you touch.
OVEN CLEANER: one of the most toxic products people use. They
contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin, and the fumes linger
and affect the respiratory system. Then there Ýs the residue that Ýs
intensified the next time you turn your oven on. Use sea salt and
baking soda instead.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: usually contain hydrochloric acid, a highly
corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that damages kidneys and
liver; and hypochlorite bleach, a corrosive irritant that can burn
eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Toilet bowl cleaners also may
cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with
other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
Are you one of the millions of consumers who tend to think anything
sold must be safe? Think again. Since WWII more than 80,000
synthetic chemicals have been invented. Most have been created from
petroleum and coal tar for the purposes of chemical warfare. The sad
thing is that hardly any of these substances have been tested for
safety, but have been added to our food, water and cleaning products
without our consent and most often without informing us of any
dangers. There is a lot of intentional suppression in this industry
that adds approximately 1000 new chemicals each year.
According to the National Research Council, "no toxic information is
available for more than 80% of the chemicals in everyday-use
products. Less than 20% have been tested for acute effects and less
than 10% have been tested for chronic, reproductive or mutagenic
effects." Most have not been tested for combined or accumulated
effects, nor for their effects on unborn children.
What can you do to protect your loved ones from chemical injury and
poisoning?
First of all, educate yourself, and find safer alternatives as much
as possible.
Secondly, minimize use of harsh chemicals. Clean spills and stains
immediately, remove food waste promptly, keep home moisture/humidity
down to 30-50%, and use entry way mats at all entrances.
Third, store all cleaning agents in their original containers out of
the reach of children. Follow the directions on the label and use
only the amount of product recommended. Read labels, follow safety
precautions and contact the manufacturer if you have questions.
By definition, we clean our homes to reduce damage or harm to human
and pet health, and to protect our valued possessions. Let's not
make the solution worse than the problem!
Glenn Beach is a self employed subcontractor who has worked
extensively in the commercial cleaning industry. More articles and
the opportunity to buy and sell environmentally safe products are
available on his website.
mailto:
begle@...http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com/veriuni_sampler.html
