Is Your Home Safe?

By: Lara Berch

 

One would assume that because a product is sold in your local
supermarket, advertised on TV or is approved by FDA, then it is
perfectly safe for household use such as cleaning, washing,
polishing, air freshening and so on. In a perfect world this would
be the correct assumption to make. In a perfect world, the
manufacturers would not put poison into our products. In a
perfect world the industry would care about it's consumers.
Unfortunately, our world is far from the above. I can sit here and
endlessly debate about our government, its policy, it's regulations
and other issues, but I will not do that. Instead, we are going to
recap on one of your regular, ordinary days.

Most of us wake up and jump in the shower. If you do not take
showers in the morning, don't worry. I will have plenty for you later
in the day. Back to the ones in the shower. I am assuming you are
washing your hair with shampoo or so you think. Want to know
what you are really washing with? Flip that bottle over and read
the fine small print of ingredients. Here is an explanation of a
small sample:

Amodimethicone - It is silicone fluid. Causes allergic reactions.

Formaldehyde - suspected carcinogen. Found in many
preservatives. Extremely toxic when inhaled or swallowed.
Nearly half of all people exposed to it experience a toxic
reaction. FDA banned formaldehyde in cosmetics but guess
what? It is still used in shampoos.

Cocamidopropyl betaine - How's eyelid dermatitis sound?
It causes it.

Ext. D&C Violet #2 - family of coal tars which is made from
phthalic anhydride and benzene. This lovely mix causes tumors
in lab rats and serious skin rashes. Benzene is a petrochemical
solvent known to cause depression, convulsions, coma and death
with prolonged exposure. Suspected to cause leukemia.

Propylene Glycol - pronounced safe by the FDA.Used in
antifreeze and brake fluid.

The list goes on and it's not pretty. The ingredients in your
body wash are similar.

Now lets get back to your day. Did I say it's a Saturday? It's
Saturday and after your 're done taking your chemical shower,
you decide to do some cleaning. What's first? Let's do some
tile cleaning with Lysol!!!

Main ingredient: Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium
Chlorides - Irritation, corrosive effects to nose, throat, and
respiratory tract.

Now let's do laundry. Some ingredients in Fabric Softeners
and Laundry detergents:

Benzyl Acetate - carcinogenic and is associated with pancreatic
cancer. absorbed through the skin.

Benzaldehyde - central nervous system depressant and may
cause kidney damage.

Camphor - central nervous stimulant. absorbed through bodily
tissues.

Ethanol - Ethanol is on the EPA list of hazardous waste. It may
cause fatigue and impair the central nervous system. This stuff
can also be found in paint thinners and nail polish removers.

Shall I go on?

Want to wash dishes? The list is similar to the above but with a kick.
Small residue of these substances are left on the dishes after
rinsing and with time it accumulates and makes way onto your food.
You are EATING it.

Now lets collect all of the above into a big pile and imagine how
much of this stuff has made it's way into your body either through
tissue contact, inhalation, or direct consumption over the years?
Do you still find it surprising that most americans suffer from some
sort of illness be it a chronic fatigue or cancer? Think about it.
I do not want to bore you with statistics. It is suffice to say that as
the household industry expanded and as consumers increased the
use of household cleaning products, the rates for cancers and
allergies and other ailments have also gone up.

There are a number of alternative cleaning solutions that can be
used without causing harm to your health. Personally, I prefer
Vinegar and Baking Soda. I mix Vinegar with water 1:1 to clean
glass and other smooth surfaces that collect dust. When cleaning
glass, spray, wipe and then wipe again with a dry paper towell.
You'll be amazed at the results. When cleaning your stove, tile,
or bathroom I use Baking Soda. It is harmless and gets the dirt
out. Click here for more healthy do it yourself cleaning solutions.

If it is easier for you to purchase than to mix at home, here are a
couple of good websites that sell non toxic cleaning solutions.

I would also like to mention that aside from the negative health effects
of commercial cleaning products, the effects on the environment are
even greater, so if not for the sake of your own well being, you should
think about the well being of your children and grandchildren. They
are the ones that are going to have to clean up our mess.

Sources: Irish Cancer Society, Chemical Council Carcinogen Releases,
Health Lounge, The Household Toxic Tour.

 

Copyright 2007 by Lara Berch