Winters in northern climates mean that we spend a lot of time indoors. We often don’t think about the indoor environment we live in and how it might affect our families’ health. Let’s take a look at some common household items that can be dangerous for our health and harmful to our environment.
This is a huge topic. First, there are products for every household task. We were encouraged by product manufacturers that we purchase a separate product for each surface and appliance. We discovered that most commercial cleaning products contain toxic chemicals such as carcinogens, hormone disruptors, mood-altering chemicals and reproductive toxins. The lack of federal regulations requiring safety testing for household cleaners complicates the assessment of how toxic these products may be. This article will only discuss a few products that are used by many people.
Toxic fumes can be released from common household products. This is especially true when products are applied from aerosol or spray containers. These fumes can remain trapped in our homes and are inhaled for a long time after we close them down in winter. Carpet, rug and upholstery cleaners can emit toxic chemicals that can cause liver damage, cancer, and other symptoms. Similar chemicals are used in air fresheners. Many household products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including paints and varnishes, waxes. They are also found in disinfectants, cleaning products. Permanent markers, glues and adhesives. VOCs have been linked with cancer, liver, kidney, and nervous system diseases. These fumes can also be linked to asthma and other respiratory issues.
High-toxicity drain and bathroom cleaners are common. Many drain cleaners contain both sodium hypochlorite (lye), and sulfuric acid. Exposure to either can cause chemical burns on the eyes or skin and can produce harmful fumes. Bathroom cleaners can contain ammonia or bleach. Bleach can be toxic to the eyes and skin. Cleaners should not be mixed. Mixing cleaners with bleach and cleaners with ammonia can lead to the production of chloramine gas. This can cause severe breathing problems and even death.
Many chemicals found in cleaning products are toxic and can cause problems in the environment. Although sewage treatment plants are intended to treat human waste, they do not process chemical waste. These chemicals are released into rivers, lakes, and farm land. The phosphates found in detergents can cause algae blooms in lakes or ponds, leading to the death and destruction of marine life. Bleach can be converted to toxic organochlorines by flushing. These organochlorines can take hundreds of years for to decompose. Triclosan, a pesticide that is found in antimicrobial products, is extremely toxic to aquatic animals.
What can we do to improve our indoor environment? And how can we reduce the environmental pollution? There are many options for organic, plant-based cleaners that are safe and non-toxic. It is important to read the entire contents of organic cleaners, as some may contain preservatives or scents that can be toxic. You can also make cleaning products using common household ingredients. Common ingredients include bicarbonate of soda (bakers soap), distilled white vinegar, and plant-based soaps like Castile soap. Castile soap is made entirely from hemp, coconut oil, avocado, or olive oil. It is free of toxic chemicals. You can find recipes for making your own cleaning products in books and online. It is amazing how simple it is to make multiple uses. This also reduces the amount plastic containers in your house.
We all have our cleaning routines and we use the products that work for us. We should make changes if these products are potentially harmful to our family’s health and the environment. While blaming large corporations for creating harmful products will not protect our families, changing our buying and cleaning habits could. The large multinational corporations that do not care about us will make safe cleaning products for our families and environment if enough people refuse to buy these harmful products.
(Refer to all factual information provided upon request. Comments and questions are welcome: [email protected]
Douglas J. Weiss & Barb Mann own Balsam moon in Pine River, which is a sacred place of peace, sustainability, and renewal.
