Toxins: Warning - many of your common household products contain toxic chemicals.
We have been hearing a lot about Toxins; toxins in the home, the
work place, the environment, and our food. So what is it we want
to be on the alert for concerning toxic chemicals?

Unfortunately, many people think that if something is on the
“shelf”, it is safe to use. After all the government would not
allow a manufacturing company to harm us by marketing a shampoo
that has harmful chemicals in it or a baby lotion that causes a
rash, or a toothpaste that is swallowed poisoning an
individual.
Would they?
We must realize the “government” has no control over personal
care products. It has no control over the household cleaners, or
the chemicals that are used in the furniture or anything we use
on a daily basis. Until someone dies, or someone “sues” a
company, nothing can really be done.
This is where we as an individual come into the picture. (After
all, who IS the government?) WE must take responsibility for
what we use, what we eat, what we drink, what we wear, etc, etc.
Pretty soon it gets to be quite a job to find these products.
But, because we are becoming more aware of what we really want to
use and the food we really want to put into our bodies, more and
more companies are also becoming aware of the consumer market.
I personally use products from a credible company that was created “green” before it was a “fad”.
Because I now am more
aware of what other companies do and don’t do, it is scary to use
the other company’s products.
Many people have used certain cleaning products such as “bleach”
forever. After all, isn’t that what grandma used or mom used?
And some people still believe that it is the only thing that will
disinfect. So it burns your skin, your eyes, your nose, and can
kill you if you happen to mix it with another cleaner, but, gee
whiz, habits are hard to change.
I am here to tell you, you need to start changing your habits.
Your children are ADD,
and you may well be too, people are dying of cancer and wonder why, you can’t
lose weight
because you have so many chemical calories in your system, your system is shutting down. Everything you eat, you drink, you breathe, is filtered by the bodies organs; think, LIVER!!!
One page can not begin to educate one on the hazardous chemicals
found in and around us. You are most welcome to
contact me
and we can talk toxic chemicals.
I would say this is just my opinion, but if you are aware at all,
you know it is not just MY opinion. Have you looked at Mother
Nature lately? Do you think she is as happy as she used to be
before so many companies started thinking about just money?
There is a solution and you can be part of the solution or part
of the problem. If you will just change from one toxic product
to a safer, cleaner, personal care product, garden spray or
window cleaner. A baby step at a time is what it takes. You can
do it.
Click here to read about environmentally friendly products.
What follows is a list of toxic household products from the
Environmental Protection agency.
Source unless noted: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Common household toxins and the products they're found in:
- Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) Lung and eye
irritant. (Source: Washington Toxics Coalition) If mixed with
ammonia or acid-based cleaners (including vinegar), releases
toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may
cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory
problems.
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
an additive in platics - raises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems such as hyperactivity. Bisphenol A is especially dangerous to developing children even as they are in the mother’s womb.
- Petroleum distillates (metal polishes) Short-term
exposure can cause temporary eye clouding; longer exposure can
damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys, and eyes.
- Ammonia (glass cleaner) Eye irritant, can cause
headaches and lung irritation. If mixed with chorine, releases
toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may
cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory
problems.
- Phenol and cresol (disinfectants) Corrosive; can cause
diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver
damage.
- Nitrobenzene (furniture and floor polishes) Can cause
shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer
and birth defects.
- Formaldehyde,
(a preservative in many household products)
Suspected human carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat,
skin, and lungs.
- Spot removers and carpet cleaners can contain
(perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents) Can
cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; perchloroethylene is
an animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen.
- Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (mothballs)
Naphthalene is a suspected human carcinogen that may damage eyes,
blood, liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system;
paradichlorobenzene can harm the central nervous system, liver,
and kidneys.
- Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate (toilet bowl
cleaners) Either can burn the skin or cause vomiting diarrhea
and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if
inadvertently splashed in the eyes.
- Formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol (spray
starch) Any aerosolized particle, including cornstarch, may
irritate the lungs.
I have also included a table of product types and what they might contain or what adverse health affects they might be associated with. Be sure to read your labels but also be aware that many toxins can go by different names.
Each
year, over 1 million children are accidentally poisoned in their homes.
More than 250,000 of these victims are hospitalized.
3,000 children will end up in intensive care. Thousands of
children and adults are permanently disfigured through contact with
chemicals in the home. The
most common poison is a household cleaner, many are considered safe. All the following comes
from MSDS (material safety data sheets) and the National Poison Control Centers.
Product |
Short
term health risks |
Long
term health risks |
All
Purpose Cleaner |
Strong
lung irritant. Can cause mild to moderate damage to eyes |
Contains
ammonia, 2-butoxy ethanol and phenol.
Linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, chronic lung
irritation, |
Automatic
dishwashing soap |
Skin
Irritant. Can burn throat. May contain bleach. Vapors can cause
headaches |
Contain
ethyl alcohol, bleach, heavy fragrances.
Vapors can cause central nervous system depression,
nausea, lung irritation and perhaps coma and death. |
Basin
Tub & Tile Cleaner |
Some
flammable, contain acids. Can burn skin, cause corneal damage. Vapors
cause respiratory irritations. |
Contains
2-butoxy ethanol, ammonia,. Linked to tumors, central nervous system
disorders, liver damage, kidney damage, and reproductive disorders. |
Carpet
Deodorizer (powdered) |
Contact
with skin cause mild irritation. Can cause abrasive eye damage. Dust
irritates lungs and aggravates asthma symptoms. |
Sodium
aluminosilicate, suspected human carcinogen. Dust can cause lung
irritation, asthma-like symptoms, and headaches. |
Bleach
liquid/powdered |
Causes
severe eye injuries. Liquid can damage mouth, throat, and stomach
Vapors irritate nose throat and lungs, Powdered can produce asthma-like
symptoms. Mixed with ammonia produces deadly fumes. |
Vapors
shown to interfere with brain function, aggravate heart conditions and
asthma/ affect reproductive system.
Long term exposure to dust can cause sensitivities,
chronic lung irritation, asthma like symptoms |
Carpet
Shampoo |
Can
cause moderate to severe burns to eyes and skin.
Vapors can irritate nose, throat and lungs. |
Contains
2-butoy ethanol, perchloroethylene, formaldehyde. Long term harms
include cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, bone marrow damage,
central nervous system disorders |
Cosmetics |
Second
only to cleaning products as poisoner of children. Not regulated like
cleaners and have no warning labels |
Many
contain formaldehyde as preservative. Most are untested and
unregulated. Use extreme caution |
Dishwashing
Liquid |
Possible
skin irritant. My cause swelling, tearing of eyes. Vapors can cause
labored coughing, breathing and in severe cases, death. |
Contains
ethanol, glcol ethers, formaldehyde, ammonia. Product with bleach can
produce toxic fumes. Repeated exposure can cause harm to central
nervous system. |
Disinfectant
Cleaner |
Aerosols
contain flammable propellants. Can
burn skin and cause permanent corneal damage. Fumes strongly irritate
nose, throat, lungs |
Phenol,
2-butoxy ethanol, formaldehyde, ammonia. Mixed with bleach produces
toxic fumes.. Can cause asthma-like symptoms, harms central nervous
system. |
Fabric
softeners |
Possible
skin irritant. Vapors cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, labored
breathing, sever cases, death. Aggravates asthma symptoms. |
Formaldehyde,
artificial fragrances, chemicals designed to cling to clothing, causing
exposure to harmful ingredients all day long. |
Softener
sheets |
Skin
& eye irritant. Vapors same as liquid softeners |
Prolonged
exposure to chemicals causes headaches, central nervous system
depression, and nausea. Can cause nose and throat irritation and
labored breathing. |
Floor
Cleaner |
Contains
corrosive acids, can cause moderate burns and irritations to skin and
eye, burn mouth and throat, cause blindness |
Petroleum
distillates, ammonia. Linked to cancer, central nervous system
disorders, tumors, kidney damage, liver damage. Fumes can product
asthma-like symptoms |
Laundry
detergent
Liquid/powdered |
Strong
eye irritant, skin irritant. Vapors cause coughing, labored breathing
could in severe case death |
Ethanol,
triethylene glycol, sodium silicate, sodium carbonate, bleach. Fumes
&/or dust can cause chronic lung irritation, central nervous
system depression, etc. |
Oven
cleaner |
Lye/
highly corrosive. Burns skin,mouth,throat,stomach, permanent blindness |
Contains
lye, ammonia. Fumes have damaged lungs, reproductive systems. Can cause
brain damage, kidney damage& reproductive disorders. |
Scouring
Powder with bleach |
Moderate
irritation to skin, burn mouth, throat. Permanent eye damage. When wet/
irritating fumes |
Contains
bleach, quartz silicate. Inhalation of quartz silicate known to cause
cancer. When wet, released chlorine gas, very toxic |
Window
Cleaner |
Can
cause moderate irritation, damage to eyes. Fumes can be irritating to
lungs. Irritate skin |
Contains
ammonia and 2-butoxy ethanol. Linked to reproductive disorder, kidney,
liver, bone marrow damage & tumors. |
Cancer
in smokers is
result of daily exposure to trace amount of carcinogens in cigarettes. People exposed daily to
low levels of carcinogens in cleaning products face similar risks. Chemicals in household
products also put user at risk for nervous system, kidney, liver damage
and asthma. |
Children
are especially vulnerable to chemical fumes.
They are closer to floor, crawl on the floor, put blankets
over heads. |
There
are companies that manufacture safer products for your home which are
free from ammonia, phenol, chlorine, petroleum distillates, synthetic
solvents, and other dangerous ingredients. |
You
are invited to ask the person who shared with you for a list of safer
alternative cleaners. [Click
Here] to request more information on nontoxic products. |
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