Still Not Convinced?
A Must Read
Even if you don't have an opportunity to read the rest of this page, do consider
these facts from an article appearing on Fox News, How Green Are Eco-Freindly
Cleaning Products?.
Since World War II, roughly 75,000 chemicals have been introduced into
consumer products, but less than 5 percent of them have been tested for health or
environmental side effects.
Many of these substances are found inside common cleaners such as countertop
disinfectants, bathtub scrubbers and dishwashing liquids. Unfortunately, routine
testing of these substances has revealed some un-routine results.
In 1989, the EPA estimated that the fumes produced by common household
cleaners were three times more likely to cause cancer than other air pollutants.
A 2007 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care
Medicine found that exposure to cleaning products accounts for 15 percent of all
asthma cases. Again, these effects are minor compared to the damage such
products cause the eco-system.
You can read the full article, here. (Hit the back button to return to this site.)
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Long Term Impact of Household Cleaning Chemicals
“We are well aware of some short-term impacts of cleaning chemicals, such as
skin, eye or lung irritation. This information is usually recorded on the product
label with a caution or warning. However we know considerable less about the
impacts of long-term exposure and the possible connections to chronic diseases.”
Alexandra Gorman
July 2007
Click here to read more from Ms. Gorman's research. The document addresses
potential hazards of chemicals in household cleaning products and their
association with asthma and reproductive harm. (Hit the back button to return to
this site.) Additional information can be found at Women's Voices for the Earth,
http://www.womenandenvironment.org.
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Common Chemicals
Household cleaners can be toxic to both you and the environment. Note these
risks to humans and the environment, found in common cleaners.
Health Concerns for People
Chlorine bleach can be found in a variety of cleaners. It can be irritating to eyes,
skin and lungs.
Ammonia can burn skin on contact and is poisonous when swallowed.
Antibacterial liquids and cleaners may contribute to the emergence of antibiotic-
resistant bacteria. In addition antibacterial soaps and "every flush" toilet bowl
cleaners and can be harmful to septic systems.
Health Concerns for the Environment
NPE's (Nonylphenol Ethoxylates) are used in laundry detergents and when
released into waterways are toxic to aquatic plants and animals.
Phosphates are used in many automatic dishwashing detergents and contribute
to an overgrowth of algae that threatens aquatic wildlife.
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No Regulation on Labels
The other concern has to do with the ingredients that are not shared by the
manufacturer on the label. Because the household cleaning manufacturers are
not yet regulated, they can avoid and/or disguise less desirable ingredients.
What's more, there's no government verification of claims such as
“biodegradable,” “nontoxic” or “environmentally friendly.”
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Useful Web Site
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are a good place
to start if you want to investigate a product's risks.
Ckick here to access the database. Type the name of
your household cleaners into the quick search box.
Click to access our secure ordering process to purchase your own EZ Clean
Green kit.
EZ Clean Green, a division of Invisible, Inc. PO Box 38, Poland, ME
The Economical Way to
Go Green When you Clean
Go Green When you Clean
Between 5
and 15% of
what we throw
away contains
hazardous
substances.
| Recent Shows we have exhibited at: Maine Annual Water Conference - Augusta, ME Down 2 Earth Conference - Boston, MA EPA Green Expo - Boston, MA Bikes not Bombs - Jamaica Plain, MA Lake Communities Association Woodstock, ME |
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