Household Hazards from Common Household Cleaners and Products
You’re probably not very comfortable with thinking of your home as akin to a toxic dump site. But if you consider how hazardous wastes are defined, you’ll get a different picture of the nature of the “ordinary” substances used every day in your home.
Basically, any substance that is poisonous, carcinogenic, corrosive, reactive, flammable, or in some other way injurious to animals or humans is considered hazardous. Just like industrial hazardous materials, household chemicals possess one or more of these characteristics and require special handling. The difference is that too often the health risks of common household products are inadequately communicated or expressed in vague terms.
Air fresheners are coming from all different kinds of perfumes and chemicals. The most common brands in the market comprise formaldehyde and phenol. Formaldehyde is a known as carcinogen agent. It has been shown to cause DNA damage and / or exacerbate asthma, allergic reactions, the problem with joint pain, depression, chest pain, nose bleeds, ear infections, and dizziness and insomnia.
Formaldehyde is also found as a by-product in many other products such as dryers and furniture polish. Another common ingredient in air fresheners is known as phenol to caused an irritation of the skin.
Furniture polisher is produced in the form of highly flammable. Furniture polisher can irritate human respiratory tract. It may comprise petroleum distillates that have been associated with skin and lung cance.
Most brands of carpet shampoo are know to use at least a highly toxic chemical. Perchloroethylene is a known carcinogen, can cause lesions in the liver and kidneys, and can affect the nervous system.
Ammonium hydroxide is highly reactive and caused problem to respiratory system and skin. Stain removers with substance like methylene chloride is a known cancer agent. This substances can cause liver damage, brain damage, heart and skin can problem. Monoethanolamine that are common to be in oven cleaners influenced lead, the central nervous system, drowsiness or coma.
Many cleaning products with citrus and orange that are marketed with the word citrus oil on the label, frequently contain D-limonene. D-Limonene is a skin and respiratory tract irritant substance. It can be life-threatening respiratory distress, especially for those with asthma or allergic reactions.
Drain cleaners with caustic soda and hypochlorite can cause serious skin damage and blindness if used in direct contact. The fumes alone can burn the throat and lungs. If swallowed drain cleaner can cause coma and death. Ammonia is a strong respiratory irritant, skin and eyes. Glass cleaners contain butyl Cellusolve, a nerve poison or neurotoxin.
From what you saw above, the health dangers of household toxins are endless. Almost all commercial cleaning products are not designed to be environmentally friendly, still contain global alternative is a toxin in it. However, these toxins are not only health risks. They have been scientifically proven that the damage to the environment, and corrosive to the house. Those who use toxic products should think seriously about how to eliminate them from the house and its replacement by more environmentally friendly, holistic alternative, as soon as possible to continue.