Many home cleaning products, unless organic, are exposing us to an array of chemical toxins that negatively affect our bodies and contaminate the environment. The following list identifies a few of these toxins. Avoid cleaners containing these chemicals – go green!

 

Ammonia

• pungent odor cleaning agent that cuts through grease and kills bacteria
• found in glass and other cleaners
• causes eye, skin, and lung irritation; violent coughing and pulmonary edema; severe skin burns

                                                                                            

Butane                                                                      

• aerosol propellant
• found in oven cleaners
• causes hallucinations, asphyxia,ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrhythmia, motor skill issues

 
Butyl Glycol or 2Butoxyethanol

• sweet smelling chemical solvent
• found in glass cleaners
• causes nose and eye irritation; headaches, vomiting, metallic taste in mouth; sufficient amounts in the bloodstream cause collapse of red blood cells

 

Diethanolamine

• delays the evaporation of other chemicals
• found in oven cleaners
• causes eye, skin and respiratory irritation

 

Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether

• slows down the evaporation rate of other chemicals
• found in oven and glass cleaners
• causes eye and skin irritation

 

Ethanol/SD Alcohol 40

• an astringent
• found in glass cleaners
• causes eye and respiratory irritation; issues with the central nervous system

 

Ethylene glycol n-hexyl ether

• a solvent and a preservative
• found in glass cleaners and air fresheners
• causes eye and respiratory irritation; issues with the kidneys and central nervous system which can result in renal failure and brain injury

 

Formaldehyde

• a disinfectant and a preservative
• found in air fresheners and dishwasher detergents
• causes respiratory and gastrointestinal issues; skin irritations; cancer in animals

 

Hydrochloric Acid

• a strong corrosive
• found in toilet bowl cleaners
• causes respiratory and gastrointestinal issues; skin irritation

 

Isobutane

• highly volatile, colorless gas; has a gasoline-like or natural gas odor
• used in glass and carpet cleaners
• causes effects on the cardiovascular system, resulting in impaired functions and respiratory failure; exposure at high levels may result in death

Isopropanol or Isopropyl Alcohol

• colorless, volatile organic compound (VOC)
• used in glass cleaners
• causes irritation to the respiratory tract

 

Naphthalene

• a cleanser and a pesticide
• found in toilet bowl cleaners
• causes skin and eye irritation; reproductive issues

 

Monoethanolamine

• grease cutting solvent
• found in oven and glass cleaners
• gives off a scent like ammonia that irritates the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract; causes headaches, nosebleeds, and cancer; can effect the central nervous system

 

Oxalic Acid

• caustic cleanser
• found in toilet bowl cleaners
• causes skin and eye irritation; gastrointestinal & reproductive issues

 

P-Dichlorobenzene

• a fungicide and a bactericide
• found in air fresheners
• causes respiratory function problems; eye & gastrointestinal irritation; environmental toxicity

 

Phosphates

• softens hard water and strengthens cleaning power of other chemicals
• found in detergents
• causes toxicity our water environment as it causes a rapid growth of algae hat reduces the amount of oxygen in water; residue left on dishes cause health problems such as nausea, diarrhea, and skin irritations

 

Sodium Hypochlorite or Chlorine Bleach

• disinfecting properties
• found in dishwasher detergents
• causes eye, respiratory, and skin irritations; stomach disorders; overuse causes bacteria resistance that can interfere with human immune system

 

Sodium Hydroxide

• corrosive used to soften grime allowing it to be wiped away
• found in oven and toilet bowl cleaners
• causes eye and respiratory irritation; skin burns

 

• creates the suds
• found in detergents & air fresheners
• causes eye & skin irritation; environmental toxicity