Watch out for toxic cleaners!!!

When I was looking through the Chicago Tribune this morning, I read a headline that read, “Make a Green Sweep this spring…”  I decided to read the article and then thought I should blog about this.  Barbara Mahany, the author of the article, came across the results of a study from William Nazaroff, a professor of environmental engineering at the University of California at Berkeley.  Nazaroff conducted a four year $400,000 study which examined what he calls “the pollution sources right  under our nose”. 
In this study 17 cleaning products, commonly used in homes, and four air fresheners were examined.  The results showed that six of the cleaning products emitted ethyl-based glycols at a level that is three times higher than the amount that the US Protection Agency allows for outdoor pollutant standards.  The study also found that twelve of the cleaners studied contain a group of chemicals called terpenes.  Terpenes are found in many solvents, but they are most commonly found in solvents that have a citrus-based scent.  Terpenes are harmful because they rapidly react with the ozone which then produces formaldehyde and other small particle pollutants that are harmful for the lungs to inhale.  These harmful toxins reduce the indoor air qualities of homes.   This can be harmful for anyone who washes their own bathrooms with these cleaners. But, think about people who clean for their profession.  Nazaroff said that anyone who inahles those fumes while they are cleaning are inhaling them at three times the amount that are allowed to come out of a factory.  After I read that I was shocked.  Who knew that you could be exposed to three times the amount of hazardous fumes of factory by cleaning your bathroom!!!!

(AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

That was not however, the only harmful thing that Mahany reported. A 15 year study in Oregon that was presented at the National Center for the Health Statistics conference examined the death rates due to cancer of women who worked in the home and those who worked outside of the home. The results showed that there was a 54% higher chance of cancer for the women who stayed home. The study strongly suggested that household cleaning toxins were the reason why. The article did not mention how many women were studied or the specific type of cancer that the women suffered from, but since it was presented at the National Center For Health Statistics I am assuming that it is somewhat legitamate.
If you were at all disturbed by these results, like I was, you may be wondering what is the solution? Should we just stop cleaning in general, the answer is to look for other non-toxic cleaners or make your own solutions.  The website biggreenpurse.com, created by Diane MacEachern,  provides recipies for cleaners.  For example to clean a tub or sink, the website suggests using baking soda, liquid soap and water.  The directions read, “Sprinkle water on the tub or sink surface, followed by a generous shake of baking soda.  Scrub with a sponge or brislte brush.  Add a little of the liquid soap to the sponge for more cleaning power.  Rinse well.”  This is a fairly simple procedure, but if you prefer a quicker method or buying your solutions in a store, Mahany suggests buying your cleaning products at Whole Foods.  Will Betts the regional grocery coordinator for Whole Foods said, ” You don’t need to do the legwork to do your housecleaning.  Our standards are certainly stricter than the standards at all conventional markets. ”  What is the drawback.. they are a little more expensive than the average cleaner.  Mahany addressed the price issue by saying, “On one hand toxins lead to God knows what dangers;  on the other hand, a few bucks. ”  I think that this is a very valid point.  These cleaners are a few dollars cheaper, but they do not have the horrendous toxins that the other cleaners have. 

Sources:

Mahany, Barbara. “Make it a green sweep this spring. ”  Chicago Tribune. April 25, 2007