SAFETY ALERTS
“It is surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on earth.”
Sir David Attenborough
Cleaning Products
Home cleaning products are not required to meet safety guidelines. The EPA requires only that ingredients that are active disinfectants or potentially hazardous are listed on the product. No testing is required to identify potential hazards. Look on the product for warning labels and instructions for what to do if exposed. Greener options are sold in stores and recipes for homemade cleaners are posted online (see Home Cleaning). Household cleaning products containing potentially hazardous chemicals, including endocrine disruptors and VOCs include:
Bleach
Ammonia
Oven Cleaners
Air Fresheners
Laundry Detergents
Drycleaning Chemicals
Floor Polish
Furniture Polish
Bathroom Cleaners
Abrasive Cleaners
Dishwashing Detergents
Rug & Upholstery Cleaners
Perfumes & Colognes
Perfumes, classified as cosmetics, don’t go through testing for long-term negative health effects. Short-term effects are tested in some ingredients, but not in the perfume itself. The American Cancer Society supports more research into and more regulation of cosmetics. For their cosmetics web page, click here. Phthalates, common in all fragrances, are endocrine disruptors (see Research). Phthalates have been shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system in animal studies. Many common household products include fragrances. Choose detergents, soaps, and other household products with no fragrance. Buy natural perfumes and colognes online or in health food stores.
Household Pesticides
Household pesticides contain potentially hazardous chemicals, including endocrine disruptors. (see Research) The EPA’s website states, “Another study suggests that 80% of most people’s exposure to pesticides occur indoors and that measurable levels of up to 12 pesticides have been found in the air inside homes.” It provides information on indoor pollutants and ways to reduce exposure. To read, click here. Household pesticides include cleaning products and insecticides. (see Safety Alerts) Look for natural insecticides or recipes for homemade insecticides online. For example, keep spiders away by filling a spray bottle with a solution of dish soap and water. Wash webs off around doors or in corners. If using commercial insecticides, including pest strips, carefully follow directions and use with caution.
Air Pollution
According to the World Health Organization’s website, 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air; air pollution kills at least 7 million people every year. Their website states, “Air pollution is hard to escape, no matter how rich an area you live in. It is all around us. Microscopic pollutants in the air can slip past our bodies’ defenses, penetrating deep in our respiratory and circulatory system, damaging our lungs, heart, and brain.” Visit the American Lung Association’s Healthy Air Campaign for resources and ways to take action.