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What
cleaning products do you use in your home? Are they safe for the
environment? Do they pose health risks? What happens if a child
accidentally drinks some? The answers to these and other questions
may surprise you.
Many
of us use toxic chemicals in everyday life. Sometimes we are
aware of it, sometimes not. Many actions which appear to be harmless
actually involve the use of harmful chemicals. Household cleaners,
garden pesticides, paints, batteries, detergents, even flea powders
can be hazardous to our health and the environment.
Detergents,
degreasers, stain removers and pesticides have made our
homes miniature chemical factories. Hazardous chemicals endanger the
environment by contaminating our groundwater, lakes and oceans. If
these hazardous products in the home are ingested, absorbed through
the skin or inhaled they can cause illness that may only appear years
later.
One
of the biggest culprits in ocean pollution is phosphates, common
in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. The average
consumer nationwide uses about 30 pounds of laundry detergent a year;
all together, Americans use about 8.3 billion pounds of dry detergent
and a billion gallons of liquid detergent each year! High phosphate
levels can kill life in rivers, streams and oceans by causing "algae
blooms." Algae slimes dense enough to suffocate marine life have been
swelling around the world, especially in coastal bays. They are
largely caused by fertilizing pollutants called "nutrients" in human
sewage and farm runoff.
Some
marine experts call this type of ocean pollution a silent,
global epidemic that if unabated could destroy American's most scenic
and commercially valuable waters. From Long Island Sound to the Santa
Monica Bay, nutrients have devastated many popular fishing spots and
shellfish beds. Many coastal bays have turned the hue of pea soup,
and some have regressed to "dead zones"--water so depleted of oxygen
that only primitive creatures such as bacteria and algae can
survive.
Some
progress has been made in tackling this problem. Phosphates have
been banned in many areas. But some supermarket varieties still
contain them. In addition, many other household cleaning products
contain harmful solvents and harsh chemicals that destroy the natural
processes involved in wastewater treatment. In addition, hazardous
waste products should not be disposed of in a septic system. These
materials kill valuable bacteria in the system. This includes even
small amounts of latex paint rinsed off of rollers and brushes.
Many
of us tend to think anything sold in a supermarket must be safe,
but often labels do not contain complete and accurate information.
Many common household cleaning products are actually classified as
hazardous waste! You should not dispose of them in the trash; please
take them to your county's hazardous waste collection center.
There
is another side to this issue besides the pollution of our
environment--our health, and the safety of our children. Chemical
levels can be up to 70 times higher inside the home that out. Over
100 chemicals commonly found in homes have been linked to allergies,
birth defects, cancer, psychological abnormalities, skin reactions,
headaches, depression, joint pain, chronic fatigue, chest pains,
dizziness, loss of sleep, asthma. . .the list goes on. Housewives
have a 55% higher risk of getting cancer than do women working
outside the home. This most likely has to do with the products they
use on a daily basis. Nervous disorders and respiratory problems have
also been linked to hazardous substances in the home.
Every
year thousands of household poisonings are reported. Many are
fatal. Approximately 70% of all poisoning accidents occur in children
between the ages of one and five. Almost all childhood poisonings are
caused by unsafe storage and handling of household cleaning products
and medicines. According to Poison Control, dishwashing detergent
accounts for more accidental poisonings than any other household
substance. Dandruff shampoo, if swallowed, causes vital organs to
degenerate. Household ammonia, when mixed with bleach is a deadly
substance. Bug spray can remain active and airborne in your home for
up to 30 years.
Seniors
are also at risk. With increasing age, people become more
vulnerable to the harmful effects of environmental chemicals due to
the deterioration of physiological and biochemical processes, which
include certain age-related biochemical, morphological and functional
changes associated with the nervous system. For example, the elderly
are likely to suffer more than younger people from exposure to carbon
disulfide and to certain pesticides and chemicals.
The
most common ingredients in household cleaning products include
alkalies, acids, detergents, other toxic chemicals. Alkalies are
soluble salts that are effective in removing dirt without excessive
rubbing. Alkalies vary in strength; the stronger one cause burns, and
if swallowed can cause internal injuries and even death. Acids are
beneficial in removing hard-water deposits, discoloration and rust
stains. Acids can irritate and injure the skin and eyes. Oxalic acid,
used in some toilet bowl cleaners, is extremely poisonous.
Caustic
household cleaners can cause severe burning if swallowed or
put on the skin, Symptoms of poisoning include redness around the
mouth, drooling and difficulty in swallowing. Never make someone who
has swallowed a caustic substance vomit or give a "neutralizing"
agent, as the chemical reaction can cause further burning.) It is
best to give water (about a cupful) and seek emergency advice from
poison control.
Many
of the chemicals found in our homes are used to make our lives
easier. But we don't realize the consequences of using many of these
substances. Think before you pour waste down the sink. Only natural
substances should be disposed in our sewer systems. Be wary and read
labels. And whenever possible, use alternative non-toxic products
that will curtail the destruction of the environment.
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