ARE TOXIC
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
POISONING YOUR FAMILY?
The Environmental Protection Agency defines chemical hazards as
"acute" or
"chronic:"
1. Acute hazard, includes
highly toxic, or corrosive chemicals which cause an
adverse effect to an
organ after short-term exposure.
2. Chronic hazard, includes
carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals which
cause an adverse effect
over a long-term exposure.
The Federal Code of Regulations defines "Hazardous
Chemicals" in Section
1910.1200c Title 29. However,
the term "Hazardous" does NOT include
hazardous ingredients used in
products designed for personal, family, or
household use.
The Federal Code of Regulations section 1500.82, EXEMPTS manufacturers
from
full labeling, allowing them to exclude "Hazardous"
chemicals from their labels.
The EPA reports toxic chemicals in our home cleaning and personal care
products are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outside
pollutants.
The President's Toxic Substances Strategy Committee warns 90% of all
cancers
are triggered by toxic chemicals in our home environment.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission connects 150 toxic chemicals in
our
homes to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological
abnormalities.
The EPA warns toxic chemicals in household cleaners cause women
working at
home to have a 55% HIGHER cancer risk than women working outside the
home.
The EPA warns the nation's worst pollution is inside our homes. A
number of
homes tested have toxic chemical levels 70 times higher inside the
home than
outside.
The Mayo clinic warns Formaldehyde in our household and personal care
products can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions,
and trigger
heart palpitations.
The Harvard School of Public Health warns Formaldehyde can cause
headaches,
depression, joint pain, chronic fatigue, chest pains, ear infections,
dizziness, and
loss of sleep.
The California Public Research Group warns Phenol, which is used in
most
household disinfectants can cause cancer, deactivate the sensory nerve
endings,
damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
HERE IS A LIST OF KNOWN TOXINS IN SOME OF OUR EVERYDAY
PRODUCTS
Dove Beauty Bar: Quaternium 15: (Formaldehyde)-Carcinogen.
Causes
cancer, dermatitis, neurotoxic, sensitizer-poisonous, irritant to the
skin, eyes,
and mucous membranes. Butylated
Hydroxytoluene, (BHT) Carcinogen.
Johnson's Baby Shampoo: Quaternium 15: FD&C RED 40:
Carcinogen, and
causes dermatitis.
Crest Tarter Control Toothpaste: Saccharin: Carcinogen, contains Phenol
Fluoride: Carcinogen If you accidentally swallow more than a pea-sized amount
of this, you must contact the Poison Control Center immediately. This
warning
does not appear on the tube.
Tide & Cheer Detergent: Detergent: Can cause temporary
respiratory tract
irritation. Symptoms include stinging, swelling, or redness. Sodium
Silicate: Can
be corrosive. Can cause burns to the eyes and tissue damage to the
skin, as well as
cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach if swallowed. Sodium Sulfate:
Corrosive, Severe eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Can cause
asthma attacks.
Trisodium Nitrilotriacetate:
Carcinogen
Clorox: Sodium Hypochlorite: Corrosive. Sensitizer: Can be fatal if
swallowed.
Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Especially hazardous to people
with heart
conditions or asthma.
Cascade: Sodium Hypochlorite: (see above) Sodium Silicate: Can
be corrosive.
Can cause burns to the eyes and tissue damage to the skin, as well as
cause burns
to the mouth, throat, and stomach if swallowed.
Fantastic, Formula 409: Butyl Cellosolve: Neurotoxic. Eye and
skin irritant.
Damages central nervous system, kidney, and liver. Readily absorbed
through the
skin. Damages blood and body's ability to make blood.
Windex Aerosol Glass Cleaner: Butyl Cellosolve (see above) Isobutane:
Neurotoxic
Lysol Disinfectant: Dioxin;
Carcinogen. 500,000 times more deadly than DDT
Ethyl Alcohol: Eye, skin, respiratory tract irritant.
Details on the above data are available in "The Safe Shopper's Bible 
Samuel Epstein, MD. & David Steinman. Macmillian, 1995. Lysol data
from "The
Environmental Health Newsletter."
"Whatever you do in life, echoes thru
eternity."
- MAXIMUS (from the movie Gladiator)