Over the past 50 years, children have been at risk for exposure to more than 75,000 synthetic chemicals - especially the 15,000 high-volume chemicals that are widely dispersed in cleaning, personal care and construction products. Less than one-half of the high-volume chemicals have been tested for toxicity, and even fewer have been tested for toxicity to children. (1)
Children are often exposed to more environmental threats than adults, and are more vulnerable to environmentally - caused diseases. This is because children are smaller, and their systems are still developing. A child's ability to flush out environmental toxins is not developed until they are around seven years old so they absorb and retain more toxins than adults. For example, children absorb about 50% of the lead they are exposed to, while adults absorb only 10-15%. A child is also more susceptible to bacteria such as strep, and to ear infections, viruses such as flu and to chemical toxins, because of their less- developed immune systems. (2)
Pesticides are another source of concern when it comes to toxic exposures in children. Many pesticides are neurotoxins and adversely affect the developing brains and nervous systems of children. Prolonged exposure to pesticides sprayed in the home or school regularly include neurological and reproductive damage and cancer. Acute health effects include eye and throat irritation, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, flu-like symptoms, upper respiratory distress and, in extreme cases, death. (3)
The harmful ingredients in many household and personal care products can cause various health conditions, including headache, fatigue, joint pain, dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, and eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Some product ingredients have been shown to cause cancer in people exposed to large amounts. These are products the average American uses on a daily bases. Many household products contain chemicals that are poisonous, corrosive, flammable, and/or chemically reactive. Many have not been tested for potential long term health effects on humans. People who suffer from environmental sensitivities have problems using everyday products most people simply take for granted. Shampoos, cleaning products, soaps, dyes, fragrances, and household cleaning products can cause severe headaches or difficulty breathing. People with environmental sensitivities typically report their first sign of problems was a sudden sensitivity to cigarette smoke or perfumes. (4)
CHEMICALS AND YOUR HOME
Here are the facts: 99% of all home care and skin care products contain harmful ingredients. In 1989, a
- 884 of these chemicals were
toxic
- 774 caused acute toxicity
- 146 caused tumors
- 218 caused reproductive complications
- 314 caused biological mutation
- 376 caused skin and eye irritations
The fumes from these products also have toxic properties. An EPA survey concluded that indoor air is 3 to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. 90% of the time, this is caused by fumes from harmful household cleaners. This affects people in homes, daycares; schools and the workplace everywhere cleaning products are used. (6)
Below is a list of everyday products in the average home and the types of health effects that go along with the chemicals in those products. (7)
Laundry Products: Highly alkaline and can cause skin and eye irritations. They are very dangerous if swallowed.
Laundry Starch: possible ingredients of spray starch (aside from the starch) include formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol; in addition, any aerosolized particle, including cornstarch, may irritate the lungs.
Fabric Softener: Residues from fabric softeners, as well as the fragrances commonly used in them, can be irritating to some people.
Chlorine Bleach: Chlorine bleaches can irritate and burn skin and eyes. Even the fumes from chlorine bleach are irritating to eyes and nose. Bleach is caustic and a neurotoxin.
Spot & Stain Removers And Dry Cleaning Fluids: Inhalation of toxic vapors from these products can cause depression of the central nervous system. Symptoms include nausea, disorientation, and loss of appetite. Perchloroethylene or
Furniture Polish: nitrobenzene (in furniture and floor polishes) can cause skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects.
Disinfectants: phenol and cresol are corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage. Triclosan has not been tested for long term health effects. Bleach is caustic and a neurotoxin.
Glass Cleaners: ammonia is an eye irritant, and can cause headaches and lung irritation.
Rug And Upholstery Cleaners: These products may contain some chemicals which, when inhaled excessively, can cause anemia, liver damage, convulsions, and possible coma. Many people don't realize that after a carpet or fabric dries the chemicals are still present and churning out gasses. Since chemicals are heavy they settle close to the ground right where our children and pets spend most of their time.
Toilet bowl Cleaners: Products available on the market can be made of toxic chemicals and strong acids. Avoid solid toilet bowl deodorizers that contain paradichlorobenzene (there is evidence that it causes cancer in laboratory animals).
Air Fresheners: These products may contain chemicals that can irritate and burn skin and may cause cancer in animals. They also interfere with the natural sense of smell.
Fingernail Polish: contains a high percentage of solvents. If you use nail polish, apply it in a well-ventilated room. Nail polish remover is basically acetone which is poisonous if swallowed, and can cause blindness if splashed in eyes. Some nail polish removers contain a chemical that if swallowed can become cyanide.
In the Kitchen These common kitchen products all contain hazardous chemicals:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Ammonia-based cleaners
- Bleach
- Brass or other metal polishes
- Dish detergent
- Disinfectant
- Drain cleaner
- Floor wax or polish
- Glass cleaner
- Dishwasher detergent
- Oven cleaner
- Scouring powder
In the Utility/ Laundry Room A number of products are likely to contain irritating or toxic substances:
- Bleach
- Carpet cleaner
- Room deodorizer
- Laundry softener
- Laundry detergent
- Anti-cling sheets
- Mold and mildew cleaner
- Spot remover
In the Bathroom
Numerous cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain hazardous substances.
Shampoos (cresol,
formaldehyde, glycols, nitrates/nitrosamines and sulfur compounds)
Hair spray (butane
propellants and formaldehyde resins)
Antiperspirants
and deodorants (aerosol propellants, ammonia, formaldehyde,
triclosan, aluminum chlorhydrate)
Lotions, creams, and moisturizers
(glycols, phenol, fragrance, and colors)
Perfumes and colognes
(aerosol propellants, hydrocarbon solvents-more than 5,000 different chemicals
many untested for toxicity are used by fragrance manufacturers)
| Help Protect Your Healthy Home! Norwich Union for Contents Insurance in the UK |
- (
- (Needleman, H.L. and P.J.
Landrigan. 1994. Raising Children Toxic Free,
- (US Environmental Protection
Agency (
- 1997-2002 Health &
- Judith Burns, "The Cosmetic Cover-up,: Human Ecologist 43 (Fall 1989)
- Nancy Sokol Green, Poisoning Our Children (The Nobel Press, 1991)
- 1997-2002 Health &
