There’s a lot to be said for using greener cleaning products. Conventional cleaners come with a slew of issues ranging from health concerns, to home and planet pollution, to death. Following are ten problems and hazards of conventional cleaners to consider.
1) We really have no clue what’s in most cleaners or what the full negative effects of said cleaners may be…
- About 3 decades ago Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TCSA) but to date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tested only 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds developed for all sorts of products used in the home; cleaners included.
- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has found that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic which includes those fragrances found in air fresheners. However, chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets, so companies don’t have to list fragrance ingredients on labels of products, they only need to label them as containing “fragrance.”
2) Conventional cleaners are not well tested or regulated for safety…
- Neither cleaning product manufacturers or the EPA have to prove a chemical’s safety as a condition of use in the home. Safe or not, any old cleaner can be sold on the market. The funny part is you’d think they’d try harder since the EPA also notes that the following conventional cleaning products should be of concern when it comes to your child’s health; bath and kitchen disinfectants and sanitizers, including bleach, household cleaning or maintenance products, such as drain cleaner, paints, or glues, automotive products stored around the home, such as anti-freeze or windshield washer fluid, products used to kill mold or mildew.
- The National Research Council notes, “Less than 20% of chemicals in every-day use products have been tested for acute effects and less than 10% have been tested for chronic, reproductive or mutagenic effects.“
3) Conventional cleaners affect your health & safety… Keep on reading this post!
{ 2 comments }
