8 Potential Toxins: What is hiding in cleaning products?
By Jessie Sholl
We think they are safe. But in fact, many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic. Learn about the eight scariest substances hidden under the kitchen sink and how replacing them with safer, more natural options can actually make it.
When a pain in Beth Greer's shoulder led her to an orthopedic doctor 9 years ago, she was not worried. After all, she has a healthy lifestyle: She monitors her weight, meditates regularly, and eats mostly organic foods. Greer's orthopedic doctor is also not worried; he diagnosed her with a herniated disc. But after three sessions, not only did she not get better, but pain began to spread down her arms and into her fingers.
MRI scans showed the real cause of Greer's pain: a tennis ball-sized tumor in her chest. The good news is that the tumor is benign. However, each of the three chest surgeons Greer met advised her to have it removed. One wanted surgery by going under her collarbone, one wanted to reach the tumor through her armpit, and a third wanted to amputate a rib to remove the tumor from her back.
They all agree on one thing: The surgery is risky. Since the tumor is located in a place with a high concentration of nerves, there is a real possibility that removing it could cause Greer to lose sensation in his hand.
Greer opted out of surgery and instead focused on doing everything he could to support his body's healing abilities. Curious by nature (she and her husband, Steven Seligman), Greer decides to learn everything she can about her condition and discovers that tumors often develop in response to irritation and inflammation. Removing toxins from the environment that could contribute to tumor growth seems like the practical first step.
First, she turned her attention to the common household cleaning products hidden in a cupboard. "I look at a label and it says 'dangerous for people and animals in the home,' says Greer. "So why would anyone want to use it?"
Eventually, she threw her entire poisonous cleaning products and started making her own with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. She also swapped her purchased body care and makeup products for non-toxic ones, and she cleaned up her already healthy diet by eating only whole foods. Unprocessed - no labels.
Nine months later, her tumor disappeared completely. Although she cannot determine her results of any of the environmental changes, Greer is confident that her reduction in poison exposure plays a key role - to the point where she shares the information. to others is the main thing in your life.
Today, Greer is a professional consultant for those who want to detox in their homes and offices. In 2002, she and Seligman sold the "Must-Know Checklist" and she began writing about a toxic-free lifestyle. As a result, the book Super Natural Home was born.
In the course of research and writing, Greer is shocked to learn that there are no federal regulations on chemicals in household products. Rebecca Sutton, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), explains, “In terms of household cleaners, neither ingredient nor product has to meet any safety standards. and does not require any testing data or notification prior to being sold ”. On average, each household contains about 62 hazardous chemicals, according to environmental experts.
We come in contact with them all the time - from the phthalates in synthetic fragrances to the toxic fumes in oven cleaners. Ingredients in common household products have been linked to asthma, cancer, fertility disorders, hormone disruption, and neurotoxicity.
Manufacturers argue that with a small amount of these toxic ingredients is unlikely to cause problems, but when we are exposed to them regularly and in un-researched combinations, it is impossible to strike. exact price risk. While some products cause immediate reactions due to acute exposure (smoke headache, skin burns from accidental contact), various problems arise with repeated exposure. Chronic exposure adds to the body's "toxic burden" - the amount of chemicals stored in its tissues at a given moment.
This toxic body burden is the EWG's primary concern for household chemicals. “Our concern is chronic daily, weekly exposure throughout life,” explains Sutton. Maybe if you are exposed to a chemical a few times it won't cause harm, but some chemicals build up enough or cause harm to your body over time causing it to cause a number of diseases. The concept [of body burden] is that pollution is not only in our air and in our water - it is also within us. "
No one can completely avoid exposure to toxic chemicals.
Phthalates
Found in: Many fragrant household products, such as air fresheners, dish soap, and even toilet paper. Due to monopoly laws, companies don't have to disclose what's in their scent, so you won't find phthalate on the label. If you see the word “fragrance” on the label, chances are the phthalate is present.
Health Risk: Phthalates are known to be endocrine disruptors. According to a 2003 study conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health, men with higher phthalate compounds had a decrease in sperm count. Alicia Stanton, MD, co-author of Hormone Harmony, warns: Although phthalate exposure occurs primarily through inhalation, it can also occur when skin comes in contact with aromatic soaps. Unlike the digestive system, the skin has no protection against toxins. Absorbed chemicals go directly to the organs.
Healthier options: When possible, choose organic, fragrance-free or all-natural products. Greer recommends skipping sprays or air coolers and instead using essential oils or simply opening windows to freshen up the air. Besides causing more serious effects like endocrine disruption, "Sprays and air fresheners can be triggers for migraines and asthma attacks," she said. Also, consider adding more plants to your home: They are natural air detoxifiers.
2. Perchlorethylene or “PERC”
Found in: Dry cleaning solutions, stain removers, and carpet and upholstery cleaners.
Health risk: Perc is a neurotoxin, according to the New York Attorney General's chief environmental scientist. And the EPA also classifies perc as "potentially carcinogenic". People living in residential buildings where dry washing machines are located have reported dizziness, loss of coordination and other symptoms. While the EPA has ordered the gradual elimination of perc machines in residential buildings by 2020, California goes even further and plans to phase out all perc use by 2023 because of dubious risks. with its health. The most frequent route of exposure is inhalation: a stench on clothes when they come back from a dry washer, or smoke that builds up after cleaning the carpet.
The healthier option: You can instead bring curtains, drapes, and clothing labeled "dry clean only" to a "wet washing machine", using water-based technology instead of chemical solvents. The EPA has recently recognized liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) as a more environmentally suitable substitute than the more toxic dry cleaning solvents. Ask your dry cleaner which method they use. For safer stains removal, look for a non-toxic label like Ecover from the natural market, or rub undiluted castile soap directly onto the stain before washing it.
3. Triclosan
Found in: Most dishwashing liquid and hand soaps have an "antibacterial" label.
Health Risks: Triclosan is an active antimicrobial that can promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. “The American Medical Association found no evidence that these antimicrobials make us healthier or safer, and they are especially concerned because they don't want us to overdo it,” explains Sutton. antimicrobial agent - that's how bacteria develop resistance not only to the [household antimicrobial materials], but to the real antibiotic we need. "Other studies have now found dangerous concentrations of triclosan in rivers and streams, where it is toxic to algae. EPA is currently investigating whether triclosan can also disrupt endocrine (hormonal) function. It is a substance that can cause cancer. At press time, the agency is reviewing the safety of triclosan in consumer products.
The healthier option: Use simple detergents and soaps with a short list of ingredients and avoid antimicrobial products with triclosan for home use. For hand sanitizers, choose one that contains alcohol and is triclosan free.
4. Quaternary ammonium compounds, or "QUATS"
Found in: Fabric softeners and bed linens, most household cleaners are labeled "antibacterial".
Health Risk: Quats are another antibiotic, and therefore cause the same problems as triclosan by helping to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They are also a skin irritant; A 10-year study of contact dermatitis found that quats were one of the leading causes. According to Sutton, they are also suspected to be the culprits of the respiratory disturbances: "There is evidence that even regular healthy people [exposed to quats] develop asthma."
The healthier option: You don't really need fabric softeners or dryer sheets to soften clothes or get rid of static electricity: Simple vinegar works too. “Vinegar is the natural fabric softener of choice for many reasons,” explains Karyn Siegel-Maier in her book The Natural Clean House. "Not only is it non-toxic, it also removes soap residue during the rinse cycle and helps prevent static electricity from accumulating in the dryer." White vinegar is your best choice for an overall cleansing; Others may stain.
5. Beware of greenwashing products.
If a cleaning product at your supermarket claims to be “green,” “natural,” or “biodegradable,” that doesn't necessarily mean it's non-toxic. In 2010, the environmental consulting firm TerraChoice Group released a report titled "The crime of blue washing." In it, the team found that more than 95% of so-called green consumer products have committed at least one "green wash crime", like making environmental claims that could be honest but not important. For example, “CFC-free” is common, as CFCs are prohibited by law. ChemConscious's Donna Kasuska offers this advice: “When evaluating ecological claims, look for specific information. "Biodegradable in 3-5 days" is more than "biodegradable", since most substances will eventually decompose when given enough time. "
DIY cleaners
Clean your home safely - and cheaply - with the following recipes:
Basic Sink Cleaner - Combine ½ cup of baking soda with six drops of essential oils (such as lavender, rosemary, lemon, lemon, or orange). Rinse the sink with hot water. Sprinkle the mixture in the sink and pour ¼ cup of vinegar on top. After the residue has settled, scrub with a sponge or damp cloth. Rinse with hot water. (From the Clean Natural House, by Karyn Siegel-Maier.)
Oven cleaner - Place a heat-resistant dish filled with water in the oven. Light up the steam to soften the cooking grease. After the oven cools, apply a mixture of salt, baking soda and vinegar in equal parts and rub. (From Super Natural Home, by Beth Greer.)
Get rid of mold in the bathroom - Good ventilation helps prevent mold. When they happen, spray with 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon each of tea tree oil and lavender oil. Shake first and spray on problem areas. The oil helps to break down mold so there's no need to wipe it off. (From Green Interior Design, by Lori Dennis.)
Carpet Shampoo - Mix 3 cups water, ¾ cup liquid liquid soap and 10 drops peppermint essential oil. Use a damp sponge to rub the foam on dirty areas. Allow to dry completely and then vacuum. (From Natural Clean House.)
Laundry soap - Try a "soap seed" made from the dried fruit of Chinese linden. Available in natural and online grocery stores, reusable soaps are packed in a cotton bag that goes into the washing machine along with the clothes.
Dust - Skip polishing of furniture. Instead, use microfiber fabrics. Made from synthetic fibers that are then split into hundreds of smaller filaments, they pick up dust more efficiently than regular rags. If necessary, a little olive oil will make a good polish.
Source: Experiencelife.com