| Have you ever given any thought to the fact | | | | cause cancer than outside pollutants. What |
| that you might be causing more harm than good | | | | are some of the other risks involved with |
| while using your consumable products? I know | | | | using these types of products? Cancers, |
| that we have used household cleaners and | | | | anemia, leukemia, liver, lung and kidney |
| personal care products for decades, so why am | | | | problems, learning and developmental issues, |
| I bringing this issue up now? If we do not | | | | reproductive issues, and death are just some |
| educate ourselves on this topic, then in the | | | | of the health issues associated with these |
| end, we have no one else to blame but | | | | toxins. Now it appears that more doctors and |
| ourselves. | | | | scientist are discovering that there may be |
| | | | more correlation between the usage of |
| The plain and simple truth is that | | | | household chemicals and the increase in |
| manufacturing companies spend millions of | | | | chronic illnesses, especially involving |
| dollars on advertising their products every | | | | children. Such illnesses such as cancer, ADD, |
| year. We are blasted on a daily basis with | | | | and asthma have been on a steady increase |
| commercials and ads regarding our consumable | | | | over the past few decades among our children. |
| products. For the most part, we also believe | | | | |
| that if we want to have cleaner houses and | | | | Now you may be wondering what a toxin is, and |
| look our personal best, then we NEED to have, | | | | a toxin can be defined as harmful chemicals |
| buy, and use these types of products. Have | | | | or substances that occur in nature and or are |
| you ever taken the time to research exactly | | | | manufactured. You also may be wondering what |
| what you are either inhaling or absorbing | | | | toxins are commonly found in our homes. |
| through your skin whenever you use these | | | | Listed below are some of the toxins most |
| products? The sad fact is that the majority | | | | commonly found in our homes, just to name a |
| of us have never given that point any | | | | few. |
| thought. Why, because we do not know that | | | | |
| there is any serious health risks associated | | | | Ammonia, benzene, chlorine bleach, |
| with the vast majority of these products. We | | | | chloropyrifos, chloroform, deet, dioxin, |
| have never been told through these ads or | | | | formaldehyde, methylene chloride, |
| commercials that the chemicals and toxins | | | | naphthalene, perchloroethylene, pesticides, |
| used in making these products can be | | | | phosphates, phthalates, sovents and volatile |
| potentially dangerous to our health. | | | | organic compounds. |
| | | | |
| Manufacturers are only mandated or required | | | | What will it take to get the American people |
| to list the potential concerns associated | | | | concerned more about their health and the |
| with their particular product, such as: use | | | | health of their loved ones? What will it take |
| caution, wear protective gloves, use safety | | | | to get us to recognize that we are allowing |
| glasses, may be corrosive, or whether the | | | | hazardous chemicals into our households every |
| product is classified as poison etc. Only 1 | | | | time we bring major brands of household |
| percent of TOXINS are required to be listed | | | | cleaners into our homes? What will it take to |
| on labels. According to the National Research | | | | get people to want to further educate |
| Council, "no toxic information is available | | | | themselves on this particular subject? You |
| for more than 80% of the chemicals in | | | | tell me! Better yet, I will tell you. Chances |
| everyday-use products. Less than 20% have | | | | are that, until something happens either |
| been tested for acute effects and less than | | | | directly to us, to our family members, or to |
| 10% have been tested for chronic, | | | | our friends, we will more than likely let |
| reproductive or mutagenic effects." A more | | | | this issue go without further ado. The choice |
| alarming issue revolves around our personal | | | | to research this matter more rest solely upon |
| care products. Back in 1989, a House Senate | | | | your shoulders. There are numerous sites that |
| Subcommittee asked the National Institute of | | | | are dedicated to discussing the issues of |
| Occupational Safety and Health to analyze | | | | household chemicals and the health risks that |
| 2,093 chemicals used in personal care | | | | are associated with using these products. |
| products. There results were as follows: 884 | | | | There are products, some of which are home |
| of the ingredients were found to be toxic. Of | | | | remedies, and others that can be purchased, |
| these, 778 can cause acute toxicity, 146 can | | | | that are designed to be safer on the |
| cause tumors, 218 can cause reproductive | | | | environment and safer for and on us as |
| complications, 314 can cause biological | | | | consumers. The fact of the matter is that we |
| mutations, and 376 can cause skin and eye | | | | use these types of products on a daily basis, |
| irritations. | | | | and no matter what, we will continue to |
| | | | purchase these products for our use. I know |
| Now, I will say that there are several | | | | and understand that we cannot eliminate all |
| factors to consider while determining whether | | | | of the chemicals and toxins in our homes, but |
| or not a toxin actually causes harm in any | | | | we CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNTS OF TOXINS THAT WE |
| particular situation, such as: potency, the | | | | ALLOW INTO OUR HOMES! I personally have |
| rate of exposure; the dosage, and individual | | | | switched my household cleaners and personal |
| sensitivity. We all are very aware of the | | | | care products over to more natural products, |
| irritations to our skin, eyes and throats, | | | | and I can tell you that I absolutely love the |
| when using some of these products, but are | | | | products. I love the fact that I do not have |
| you aware that those irritations may just be | | | | to wear gloves or glasses or need to |
| the tip of the iceberg? Toxins are known to | | | | ventilate my home when I clean, and I love |
| cause a variety of harms and health issues. | | | | the fact that my family is using products |
| The EPA has acknowledged that the air inside | | | | that are designed to be safer and non toxic. |
| our homes is 3 to 70 times more polluted than | | | | I can also testify to the fact that the |
| the air outside our homes. The EPA has also | | | | household cleaners work just as good as the |
| acknowledged that toxic chemicals in | | | | major brands, if not better. |
| household cleaners are 3 times more likely to | | | | |