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