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