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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 ís 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 ís the residue that ís 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@work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com
http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com/veriuni_sampler.html |
