Are We Making Ourselves Sick By Cleaning?

 Did you know that over 80,000 chemicals have been created in the last 50 years? 

Many, if not most, have never been tested for long-term exposure and cumulative use. (Our skin, being the largest organ in our body, absorbs whatever comes in contact with it.) There is also no possible way to test the combination of chemicals (the "cocktail effect") that we ingest or absorb over time.

Here's the truth about chemicals- 

       “A major portion of the toxic and hazardous chemicals that you have and use in your home can be found in your cleaning products” (Source – Prosperity without pollution; Hirschorn and Oldenburg, 1991).

       Cleaning chemicals are the most frequent type of chemicals involved in poisonings reported to 'Poison Control Centers' in the United States.  Most occur in children under the age of 6.

       “Indoor air is often two to five times more contaminated than outdoor air” (American Lung Association).  In addition to industrial and outdoor air pollutants, the Canadian Lung Association highlights residential pesticides and indoor chemical pollutants found in many common household products as causes and triggers of respiratory illnesses.

       “The toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution” - Environmental Protection Agency, 1985.

       “Women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home.”  The 15-year study concluded it was a direct result of the much higher exposure rate to toxic chemicals in common household products (Toronto Indoor Air Conference 1990).  

       The Consumer Product Safety Commission on "CHEMICALS COMMONLY FOUND IN THE HOME" identified 150 as linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities.

       The EPA tallied close to 10,000 chemical ingredients in cosmetics, food and consumer products. Very few of these chemicals were in our environment or our bodies just 75 years ago…and except in the case of foods, drugs or pesticides, companies are under no legal or regulatory obligation to assess how these products might harm human health…and most have not been tested as such.

       Recent medical and scientific studies suggest that chronic exposure to low levels of synthetic chemicals and "toxins" found in indoor air pollution may be linked to numerous health concerns, including but not limited to: allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, cancer, Alzheimer's, ADD ( Attention Deficit Disorder ) ; and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.  Unfortunately, people overlook the cumulative effect of repeated exposure to cleaning chemicals since no one is really affected by a single exposure of handling them.

Next time, I'll share how I think we've been hoodwinked by media and advertising. In the meantime, if you use disposable cleaning wipes to "disinfect" take a minute to read the label. My guess is you will find that you have been using the product incorrectly.