In all my days of green living I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about green cleaners. They’re too expensive, they’re too time consuming, they don’t smell pine fresh, they’re not so much safer than real conventional cleaners, they don’t disinfect, and so on and so on…

Yup, green cleaners are a super drag. I hate not being exposed to toxic chemicals in my home; it’s what I live for. But seriously, there are some major and real issues related to the use of conventional household cleaners. When I point out the backs of conventional cleaning packages to people, which of course note things like, “Use in a vented area… use with gloves only… wash skin right away when exposed” some of these people just don’t seem to think it matters all that much. That said I thought I’d offer up some research about it. Browse at your leisure and later I’ll list some better, safer, greener options.

University of California at Berkeley conducted about cleaning supplies in the exposure to indoor airborne chemicals study which showed that the inhalation exposures to air pollutants that can result from the use of common household products.

Household Cleaning Products Linked To Childhood Asthma and Childhood Leukemia.

Enough freaky research about cleaning products to hopefully make you ban them forever.

The The Washington Toxics Coalition notes that conventional cleaning products can burn skin or eyes, irritate the lungs, aggravate asthma, and cause death. They also note that home cleaning products are among the products most frequently ingested accidentally by children, which can of course cause serious damage.

Cleaning products are deemed so unsafe by OSHA that they’ve got an entire program developed around safety protocol for people who work with typical chemicals found in household cleaners. OSHA notes that health problems related to cancer, skin issues, permanent eye damage, and organ damage develop quicker than normal for those who work with these chemical cleaning products daily. Obviously pro cleaners tend to use full strength cleaners vs. diluted but it’s important to note that the exact same ingredients are found in both industrial cleaners and household cleaners. The amounts differ, but if they can make someone sick it’s something to ponder. Becoming sick slower because you use less of a product isn’t the best consolation.

The American Lung Association relates that the “household cleaning agents that contain potentially harmful substances that contribute to indoor air pollution is wide-reaching and diverse.” They note that these products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, and eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation and some can cause cancer. They recommend using a non-toxic alternative whenever possible.

If you want to see just how ’safe’ conventional cleaners are, look at the back of a bottle of a typical household cleaner, then enter some of the ingredients into the OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database.

Are We So Clean That We’re Breeding Super Germs?

The EPA notes, “Every 13 seconds, U.S. Poison Control Centers receive a call about someone being exposed to a poison. Forty percent of those cases involve a child under three years of age. According to the American Association of Poison Centers, more than 50 percent of over two million exposure incidents each year involve children under six years of age. What’s more, poison center data reported over 70,000 calls made to poison centers with concerns about exposure to common household pesticides.” The EPA then goes on to say 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 European Respiratory Journal, reports that expectant mamas who use many household cleaning products may be putting their child at an increased risk of developing asthma as a youngster.

Household cleaning products don’t sound like a day in the park do they? Coming up, some safer, greener options.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

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