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Learn About Chemicals around Your House
There are many household products used around your home. What do you know about them?

Test Your Knowledge

Environmental Protection Agency

What About Labels?

Aren’t the manufacturers supposed to label products that are dangerous? www.emagazine says: “Some of the most hazardous substances in our homes are cleaning products. They are so toxic that they are the only household products regulated by the Consumer Product safety Commission. However, there is no federal law requiring pre market safety testing by the manufacturer, so the hazards of some products have not been revealed until after consumers have been injured.

Manufacturers are not even required to list exact ingredients on the label. You can't check the label, for instance, and know if a mold and mildew cleaner has pentachlorophenol in it - a substance that can kill. Some products are even protected by 'trade secrets,' so not even the Government, poison Control Centers, or your doctor can find out what is in them or if an antidote is needed. “

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Formaldehyde in Your House

Did you know formaldehyde is a common ingredient in many household products?

Birth Defect Research for Children, Inc (www.birthdefects.org) says: Formaldehyde can be an ingredient in many household products, including shampoo, hair creams and lotions, skin cleansers, nail polish and hardeners, dishwashing liquids, make-up, and as an additive for wrinkle-free fabrics. Exposure to formaldehyde occurs by vapors released by commonly used pressed woods and urea-formaldehyde insulation, polluted urban air, petroleum combustion, wood burning stoves, and smoking. Occupational exposures to formaldehyde have been associated with menstrual irregularities, birth defects and chromosomal changes.

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ADD and ADHD

Are toxic substances linked to ADD and ADHD?

Dr. Doris Rapp, author of the book Is This Your Child's World? and the video Environmentally Sick Schools, says: “ demonstrates a decline in writing and drawing skills when children are exposed to toxic chemicals, as well as to certain foods, dust, mold and pollen. Children did poorly on tests after applications of cleaning chemicals or insecticides, or after exposure to common allergenic substances".

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Steps To Take

What can you do to make your home safer?

First of all, educate yourself. Find out where in your house toxins live. Visit http://www.epa.gov/kidshometour/ or http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/mainmenu.htm

In a 2002 report, the Household Toxins Institute, based in Burlington, VT made the following recommendations:

Avoid petroleum based cleaners as well as those with chlorine, ammonia and phosphates.
Traditional toilet and oven cleaners and furniture polish have the highest amounts of toxins.
Opt for hand applied cleaners rather than sprays, which disperse chemicals in the air.
Never mix cleaners. That could create higher toxicity.
Don’t clean with hot water; it enables volatile chemicals to evaporate into the air in greater quantities.
Don’t clean around children. Still developing youngsters are at a higher risk to the effects of household chemicals.

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HERE IS A LIST OF KNOWN TOXINS IN SOME OF OUR EVERYDAY PRODUCTS

Dove Beauty Bar: Quaternium 15: (Formaldehyde)-Carcinogen. Causes cancer, dermatitis, neurotoxic, sensitizer-poisonious, irritant to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Butylated Hydroxytoluene, (BHT) Carcinogen

Johnson's Baby Shampoo: Quaternium 15: FD&C RED 40: Carcinogen, and causes dermatitis

Crest Tarter Control Toothpaste: Saccharin: Carcinogen, contains Phenol Fluoride: Carcinogen If you accidentally swallow more than a pea-sized amount of this, you must contact the Poison Control Center immediately. This warning does not appear on the tube.

Tide & Cheer Detergent: Detergent: Can cause temporary respiratory tract irritation. Symptoms include stinging, swelling, or redness. Sodium Silicate: Can be corrosive. Can cause burns to the eyes and tissue damage to the skin, as well as cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach if swallowed. Sodium Sulfate: Corrosive, Severe eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Can cause asthma attacks. Trisodium Nitrilotriacetate: Carcinogen

Clorox: Sodium Hypochlorite: Corrosive. Sensitizer: Can be fatal if swallowed. Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma.

Cascade: Sodium Hypochlorite: (see above) Sodium Silicate: Can be corrosive. Can cause burns to the eyes and tissue damage to the skin, as well as cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach if swallowed.

Fantastic, Formula 409: Butyl Cellosolve: Neurotoxic. Eye and skin irritant. Damages central nervous system, kidney, and liver. Readily absorbed through the skin. Damages blood and body's ability to make blood.

Windex Aerosol Glass Cleaner: Butyl Cellosolve (see above) Isobutane: Neurotoxic

Lysol Disinfectant: Dioxin; Carcinogen. 500,000 times more deadly than DDT Ethyl Alcohol: Eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritant.

Details on the above data are available in "The Safe Shopper's Bible" by Dr. Samuel Epstein, MD. & David Steinman. Macmillian, 1995. Lysol data from "The Environmental Health Newsletter."

HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS in SUPERMARKET PRODUCTS

AIR FRESHENERS: Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats,convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma and even death.
AMMONIA: It is a very volatile chemical, it is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.

ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.

BLEACH: It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY.

CAR WASH AND POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Associated with skin and lung cancer, irritant to skin, eyes, nose and lungs. Entry into the lungs may cause fatal pulmonary edema, most marked Danger, Harmful or Fatal.

CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.

DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated.# 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.

DRAIN CLEANER: Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.

FLEA POWDERS: Carbaryl: Very toxic, causes skin, respiratory and cardiovascular system damage. Chlordane: Accumulates in the food chain, may damage eyes, lungs, liver, kidney and skin. Dichlorophene: Skin irritation: May damage liver, kidney, spleen and central nervous system. Maldison or Malathion (OP) inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, causes brain disorders, insomnia, anorexia, dermatitis, heart, lung, muscle, kidney, and liver damage.

FRAGRANCES: 95 percent of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and other known toxics and sensitizers -- capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. See Fragranced Products Information Network (Betty Bridges), and The Environmental Health Network

FURNITURE POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.

LICE SHAMPOO: Especially vulnerable are children. Maldison or Malathion (OP): inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, causes brain disorders, insomnia, anorexia, dermatitis, heart, lung, muscle, kidney, and liver damage. Piperonyl Butoxide benzodioxole: Inhibits microsomal enzymes, suspected of causing anorexia, carcinogenisis, coma, convulsions, dermal irritation, kidney and liver damage, hyperexcitability, prenatal damage, prostration, tearing, unsteadiness, vomiting and weight loss. Lindane: Inhalation, ingestion, or ABSORPTION through the SKIN causes vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and circulatory collapse. May cause liver damage, stillbirths, birth defects and cancer.

LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.

MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS: Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.

OVEN CLEANER: Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.

PESTICIDES: Most pesticides have ingredients that affect the nervous system of insects. Dimpylate: Better known as Diazinon, extremely toxic. Impairs the central nervous system. Chlorinate Hydrocarbons: Suspected carcinogen and mutantagen. Accumulates in food and in fatty tissue. Will attack the nervous system. Organophosphates such as Chlorpyrifos: a potent nerve poison, affects the nervous system. Synthetic Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids, such as Permethrin: associated with children's brain cancers. Toxic and poisonous. If you can smell it, your lungs are absorbing it.

SPRAY & WIPE SURFACE CLEANERS: Many surface cleaners contain the solvent 2-butoxyethanol, which may cause respiratory tract irritation, unconsciousness, kidney and liver damage, eye irritation, damage to blood cells, and blood in urine.

TAR AND BUG REMOVER: Contains XYLENE and PETROLEUM DISTILLATES.

TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
Do you know what the everyday household products you use are doing to you? . This information was found at http://www.netspeed.com.au/rdi/cas/products.htm .