Toxicity
It Seems to Be Everywhere
According to the World Resource Institute "of the 17,000 chemicals
that appear in common household products, only 30% have been adequately
tested for their negative effects on human health; less that 10% have
been tested for their effects on the nervous system; and nothing is known
about the combined effects of these chemicals when mixed within the body."
These chemicals have many names. To mention just a few, formaldehyde is
found in some automatic dishwashing detergent and room deoderizers, chlorinated
phenols, known to be toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems is included
in some toilet bowl cleaners, and nonyl phenol ethoxylate, a detergent
banned in Europe is recognized to biodegrade slowly into additionally
toxic compounds.
Products New to the Market
Many such chemicals were unheard of 50 years ago, and slowly their toxic
effects are being noted, especially in the health of young children. According
to Healthy Choices a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching the
public about the hazards of household chemicals, liquid dish soap is the
leading cause of poisoning among children under six years old as many
commercial dish soaps contain formaldehyde and ammonia. Also, it is becoming
more widely accepted that antibacterial products may be playing a major
role in dramatically spiked incidences of asthma in children and teens.
It is believed that the immune systems of young people may be compromised
by disruption of the balance of "good germs" and "bad germs"
in our environments. For more on antibacterials...
Their Affect on Indoor Air Quality
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other respected organizations
have sounded the alarm about the dangers inherent in many household products,
so it's time to pass the word. According to the EPA web site, "the
EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air
quality pollution among the top five environmental risks to health."
Their statistics note that levels of indoor airborne pollutants may be
two to five, and occasionally even 100 times higher than outdoors. This
is especially problematic since many Americans spend as much as 90% of
their time indoors.
Poisoning
They also report that between 1993 and 1995, exposure to household disinfectants
was responsible for the poisoning of almost 7500 children under age 6.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission points out that poisoning sometimes
happens slowly and its effects build cumulatively, so symptoms may not
become apparent right away. The work of the Commission and the EPA involve
all household chemicals, including those used to make carpeting, paneling,
and other petrochemical products. Although the average American household
typically uses and stores about 10 gallons of hazardous petrochemicals
in the form of household cleaners, pesticides, paints and solvents, Green
Martha in the Kitchen will focus specifically on household cleaning products.
Environmental Protection Agency
Household
Chemical Facts
A Few to Look For
Some of the ingredients that cause the most trouble are chlorine, phosphates,
alkylphenols, and volatile organic compounds.
Chlorine
The Warnings
Chlorine, also called sodium hypoclorite, irritates the eyes and lungs.
People dealing with chronic respiratory ailments or heart conditions are
particularly affected. The 1990 Clean Air Act lists chlorine as a hazardous
air pollutant, and in 1993, the American Public Health Association passed
a resolution advocating that American Businesses terminate the use of
chlorine. Yet even with these safety warnings, manufacturers not only
add chlorine to many products, they sometimes add perfume as a sales incentive,
encouraging nasal exposure and inhalation of chlorine fumes.
Household Bleach
Bleach, the most utilitarian use for household chlorine, is known as the
"universal sanitized" because of its ability to kill bacteria
and whiten. The benefit of using chlorine over antibacterials is its ability
to evaporate shortly after use where as antibacterials often leave a residue
because many products contain softeners or lotion. For more on antibacterials...
How to Use Products Containing Chlorine
As with other dangerous chemicals, use any cleaner containing chlorine
sparingly. Avoid exposure to skin and clothes, and always make sure there
is a decent flow of air in the work area. Chlorine is not a product to
leave in place for a while and wipe off later, so work quickly. Probably
the most important rule to remember about chlorine is that it is not
to be mixed with ammonia or other acid based chemicals like vinegar.
The mixture produces toxic chloramine gas, which destroys the oxygen content
of air in enclosed spaces. Short-term effects range from mild asthmatic
symptoms to serious respiratory ailments.
Chlorine Wood Bleaching and Dioxins
As dangerous as chlorine is in household cleaning products, it is additionally
dangerous in the bleaching of wood pulp for paper manufacturing because
the process creates dioxin, one of the most toxic carcinogens known.
Alternative Products
These days there many ways to avoid chlorine and still disinfect suitably.
Some manufacturers are successfully substituting oxygen, hydrogen peroxide,
or sodium hydroxide for chlorine, and liquid bleach is available without
any chlorine at all. Cronig's carries Ecover, Ultra Natural Non-Chlorine
Bleach which is made from hydrogen peroxide and breaks down into water
and oxygen. As an alternative to disinfecting with bleach, the Queen of
Green Cleaning, Annie Berthold-Bond, recommends using Australian tea tree
oil and grapefruit seed extract to sterilize and fungicide. Because neither
of these substances has been tested by the federal government, they cannot
be technically called fungicides or disinfectants. However, mixing two
teaspoons of tea tree oil to two cups of water in a spray bottle is an
effective mold eliminator. The ratio for grapefruit seed extract is 20
drops to a quart of water.
Advice from
expert Annie Berthold-Bond
Environmental
Media Services
Seventh
Generation
Phosphates
What's Wrong With Them?
Phosphates are minerals that help detergents clean by softening water,
but they promote rapid algae growth as well, which is why they are used
in fertilizers. Therefore, when phosphates discharge into a brook, river,
or ocean after being flushed down a drain, they can cause lots of trouble
for the fish, aquatic vegetation, and life on the edge of the water because
they introduce increased nutrient load which can ultimately rob the water
of it's oxygen.
The Law
These days, some states have banned phosphates from laundry detergent
and other cleaning products. Liquids used for the hand washing of dishes
don't contain phosphates, and many cleaning products indicate that they
are phosphate free on the side panel, so effective and safe alternatives
are readily available for most products.
The Exemption
However, phosphate is still a staple ingredient in automatic dishwashing
detergent because that formulation is exempt from restrictions.
Alternative Dishwashing Detergents
Cronig's carries Ecover Automatic Dishwashing Powder, and Ecover, Automatic
Dishwashing Tablets, both phosphate free and made without chlorine.
Washington Toxics Coalition
Impact
of phosphates on water quality
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
How They Work
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates are incorporated into cleaning products because
they have oil dispersing characteristics. Some laundry detergents, all-purpose
cleaners, disinfecting cleaners, and cosmetics contain alkylphenol ethoxylates.
Their environmental breakdown into alkylphenol has been shown to disrupt
the endocrine systems in mammals, fish, and birds.
How it Works
Endocrines are a type of hormone that is produced by various glands in
the body to trigger necessary biological changes in target cells. Alkylphenol,
a hormonal disrupting pollutant, collects in body fat and can interfere
with reproduction, appropriate development, and disease resistance. This
disruption also occurs when chemicals are passed from a mother's body
to her baby.
Slow to Biodegrade
One of the dangers of alkylphenols is the protracted time they take to
break down or bio-degrade, which is why they are more likely to be absorbed
into the fat of fish, birds and mammals.
Labeling Loophole
Unfortunately, alkylphenol ethoxylates do not need to be labeled as an
ingredient if the manufacturer considers the component to be proprietary
information so discovering their existence can be tricky. However, most
cleaning products list a customer query phone number on the back panel
making follow-up investigation possible before considering brand switching.
Investigating Alternatives
Another approach for anyone concerned about exposure to this chemical
is selecting only products committed to listing all of their ingredients.
BIO PAC, Dr. Bronner, Earth Friendly Products, Earth and Sun, Ecover,
and Seventh Generation are just some of the cleaning products Cronig's
carries whose manufacturer's are committed to listing all their ingredients.
Washington Toxics Coalition
World
Wildlife Fund
Volatile Organic Compounds
 Carbon
that Vaporizes
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are listed in the EPA glossary as "chemicals
that contain carbon. Volatile organic compounds vaporize at room temperature
and pressure. Found in many indoor sources, including many household products
and building materials." These chemicals often off-gas organic compounds,
or carbon, while they are being used, hence the "volatile" label,
so ventilating a work area is crucial. Volatile organic compounds also
slowly release vapors while being stored, so accurately calculating the
amount needed is useful to avoid extended storage of leftover product.
Do We Really Need to Use Them?
To avoid the release of organic pollutants while using or storing volatile
organic compounds, bypass aerosol products, dry-cleaned clothes, and some
air fresheners. If these products must be handled, make sure exposure
is brief, and the work area is well ventilated.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Alternative products
Scientific
American Article: Everyday Exposure to Toxic Pollutants
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