When consumers buy commercial cleaning products, we expect them to
do one thing: clean! We use a wide array of scents, soaps,
detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, scourers, polishes, and
specialized cleaners for bathrooms, glass, drains, and ovens to keep
our homes sparkling and sweet-smelling. But while the chemicals in
cleaners foam, bleach, and disinfect to make our dishes, bathtubs
and countertops gleaming and germ-free, many also contribute to
indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested, and can be harmful
if inhaled or touched. In fact, some cleaners are among the most
toxic products found in the home. In 2000, cleaning products were
responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures reported to U.S.
Poison Control Centers, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these,
120,434 exposures involved children under six, who can swallow or
spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home.
Cleaning ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose.
Some cause acute, or immediate, hazards such as skin or respiratory
irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are
associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.
The most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain
cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners, according
to Philip Dickey of the Washington Toxics Coalition. Corrosive
chemicals can cause severe burns on eyes, skin and, if ingested, on
the throat and esophagus. Ingredients with high acute toxicity
include chlorine bleach and ammonia, which produce fumes that are
highly irritating to eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and should not be
used by people with asthma or lung or heart problems. These two
chemicals pose an added threat in that they can react with each
other or other chemicals to form lung-damaging gases. Combining
products that contain chlorine and ammonia or ammonia and lye (in
some oven cleaners) produces chloramine gases, while chlorine
combined with acids (commonly used in toilet bowl cleaners) forms
toxic chlorine gas.
Fragrances added to many cleaners, most notably laundry detergents
and fabric softeners, may cause acute effects such as respiratory
irritation, headache, sneezing, and watery eyes in sensitive
individuals or allergy and asthma sufferers. The National Institute
of Occupational Safety and Health has found that one-third of the
substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic. But because the
chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets,
companies aren't required to list their ingredients but merely label
them as containing "fragrance."
Other ingredients in cleaners may have low acute toxicity but
contribute to long-term health effects, such as cancer or hormone
disruption. Some all-purpose cleaners contain the sudsing agents
diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). When these
substances come into contact with nitrites, often present as
undisclosed preservatives or contaminants, they react to form
nitrosamines - carcinogens that readily penetrate the skin.
1,4-dioxane, another suspected carcinogen, may be present in
cleaners made with ethoxylated alcohols. Butyl cellosolve (also
known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), which may be neurotoxic
(or cause damage to the brain and nervous system), is also present
in some cleaners.
Chemicals that are so-called "hormone disruptors" can interfere with
the body's natural chemical messages, either by blocking or
mimicking the actions of hormones. Possible health effects include
decreased sperm counts, increased rates of male birth defects such
as cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias (where the
urethra is on the underside of the penis), and increased rates of
some kinds of cancers. The alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) used in
some detergents and cleaners have been shown to mimic the hormone
estrogen; one APE, p-nonylphenol, has caused estrogen-sensitive
breast cancer cells to multiply in a test tube study.
Environmental
After bubbly cleaning liquids disappear down our drains, they are
treated along with sewage and other waste water at municipal
treatment plants, then discharged into nearby waterways. Most
ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances
during treatment or soon afterward. Others, however, do not,
threatening water quality or fish and other wildlife. In a May 2002
study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country,
the U.S. Geological Survey found persistent detergent metabolites in
69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants.
The detergent metabolites the USGS detected were members of a class
of chemicals called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). APEs, which
include nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates, are
surfactants, or "surface active agents" that are key to detergents'
effectiveness. They are added to some laundry detergents,
disinfectants, laundry stain removers, and citrus
cleaner/degreasers. When discharged in municipal waste water,
nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates break down into
nonylphenol and octylphenol, which are more toxic and do not readily
biodegrade in soil and water. APEs have been shown to mimic the
hormone estrogen, and their presence in water may be harming the
reproduction and survival of salmon and other fish. For example, in
Britain, researcher John Sumpter discovered that male fish exposed
to APEs in rivers were producing female egg-yolk proteins. APE
pollution may be threatening fish in the U.S. as well, for
octylphenol and nonylphenol were the detergent metabolites that the
USGS detected in 69% of streams tested here. Such ubiquity may not
bode well for humans, either: the APE p-nonylphenol has also caused
estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to proliferate in test tubes.
Another famous water pollutant is phosphates, water-softening
mineral additives that were once widely used in laundry detergents
and other cleaners. When phosphates enter waterways, they act as a
fertilizer, spawning overgrowth of algae. This overabundance of
aquatic plant life eventually depletes the water's oxygen supply,
killing off fish and other organisms. Although many states have
banned phosphates from laundry detergents and some other cleaners,
they are still used in automatic dishwasher detergents.
Another environmental concern with cleaning products is that many
use chemicals that are petroleum-based, contributing to the
depletion of this non-renewable resource and increasing our nation's
dependence on imported oil.
The plastic bottles used to package cleaning products pose another
environmental problem by contributing to the mounds of solid waste
that must be landfilled, incinerated or, in not enough cases,
recycled. Most cleaners are bottled in high-density polyethylene (HDPE,
denoted by the #2 inside the recycling triangle) or polyethylene
terephthalate (PETE, #1) which are accepted for recycling in a
growing number of communities. However, some are bottled in
polyvinyl chloride (PVC, #3). PVC, otherwise known as vinyl, is made
from cancer-causing chemicals such as vinyl chloride, and it forms
as a byproduct a potent carcinogen, dioxin, during production and
incineration. As a final insult, most sanitation departments do not
accept PVC for recycling; less than 1% of all PVC is recycled each
year.
Household Cleaning Supplies
THE SOLUTIONS
What to look for
A few safe, simple ingredients like soap, water, baking soda,
vinegar, lemon juice and borax, aided by a little elbow grease and a
coarse sponge for scrubbing, can take care of most household
cleaning needs. And they can save you lots of money wasted on
unnecessary, specialized cleaners! For that reason, we've provided
recipes for do-it-yourself cleaners under most product categories
(See Product Comparisons).
However, when you need the convenience or the added power of
pre-made, commercial cleaners, or for the basics like laundry and
dishwashing detergents, here are some shopping guidelines to help
you choose products with the lowest impact on your health and the
environment:
1. Although most cleaners don't list ingredients, you can learn
something about a product's hazards by reading its label. Most
labels bear a signal word, such as Danger, Warning or Caution, that
provides some indication of a product's toxicity. Products labeled
Danger or Poison are typically most hazardous; those bearing a
Warning label are moderately hazardous, and formulas with a Caution
label are considered slightly toxic. If you find them, choose
products that are nontoxic enough that they require none of the
signal words above on their label. Beside the signal word is usually
a phrase that describes the nature of the hazard, such as "may cause
skin irritation," "flammable," "vapors harmful," or "may cause burns
on contact." Look for instructions on how to use the product, which
may help you avoid injury. Some labels do list active ingredients,
which may assist you in detecting caustic or irritating ingredients
you may wish to avoid, such as ammonia or sodium hypochlorite. A few
manufacturers voluntarily list all ingredients.
2. When gauging ecological claims, look for specifics. For example,
"biodegradable in 3 to 5 days" holds a lot more meaning than
"biodegradable," as most substances will eventually break down if
given enough time and the right ecological conditions. And claims
like "no solvents," "no phosphates," or "plant-based" are more
meaningful than vague terms like "ecologically-friendly" or
"natural."'
3. When ingredients are listed, choose products made with
plant-based, instead of petroleum-based, ingredients.
4. To reduce packaging waste: Choose cleaners in the largest
container sizes available; especially seek out bulk sizes. Select
products in bottles made with at least some recycled plastic. By
doing so, you support companies that are providing a vital
end-market for recycled plastic (without this market, recycling
would not be possible). And choose concentrated formulas, which
contain only 20% or less water. Because dilution with water is done
at home, not at the factory, concentrated cleaners overall require
less packaging and fuels for shipping.
What to look out for
Avoid cleaners marked "Danger" or "Poison" on the label, and look
out for other tell-tale hazard warnings, such as "corrosive" or "may
cause burns."
Avoid products that list active ingredients of chlorine or ammonia,
which can cause respiratory and skin irritation and will create
toxic fumes if accidentally mixed together.
Protect water quality and aquatic life by refusing to purchase
detergents containing phosphates, which may cause algal blooms, or
alkylphenol ethoxylates, including nonylphenol and octylphenol.
Unfortunately, these ingredients are rarely, if ever, disclosed on
labels; however, the brands recommended in this report are, to the
best of our knowledge, phosphate- and APE-free.
Beware of unregulated "greenwash" claims on labels! Terms such as
"natural" and "eco-friendly" shouldn't be equated with safety unless
they're backed up with specific ingredient information, such as
"solvent-free," "no petroleum-based ingredients," "no phosphates,"
etc. "Non-toxic" has no official definition, so unless a third party
has verified this claim, it is not considered meaningful. And don't
believe "organic" ingredients in cleaning and other chemical
products are any safer than other substances. Although "organic" in
the grocery store refers to foods grown without synthetic
pesticides, in chemistry it refers to chemicals that are
carbon-based, including some VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that
release harmful fumes and may cause brain damage or
cancer.Additionally, watch out for products labeled organic.
Household cleaning products aren’t regulated by the Organic Foods
Production Act, but some of their ingredients, such as plant oils,
can be labeled “certified organic.” For more info, see ecolabels.org.
Be aware that some labels that may make a product appear
eco-friendly are actually meaningless. For example, many aerosol
spray cans are labeled "no CFCs" (or chlorofluorocarbons, which
deplete the ozone layer), leading consumers to believe they are
buying a more eco-friendly product by purchasing that brand. In
reality, CFCs have been banned from aerosols since 1978, so none are
permitted to contain CFCs. And think of all of the resources that
would be saved if companies that advertise their packaging as "100%
recyclable" actually switched to materials that are "100% recycled!"
Shopping Suggestions
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS:
Some all-purpose cleaners contain the sudsing agents diethanolamine
(DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), which can react with nitrites (an
often undisclosed preservative or contaminant) to form nitrosamines
- carcinogens that readily penetrate the skin. Skin also easily
absorbs nerve-damaging butyl cellosolve (also known as ethylene
glycol monobutyl ether), present in some cleaners. Fumes from
ammonia-containing cleaners may cause respiratory irritation. Sodium
hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) are highly caustic, and
sodium hypochlorite should never be mixed with any product
containing ammonia or acids, or toxic gases will result. To prevent
chemical accidents, it's best to simply avoid.
Most household cleaning needs can be met safely and inexpensively
with a sturdy scrubber sponge and simple ingredients like water,
liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner's, below), vinegar, lemon
juice, or baking soda for scrubbing grease and grime.
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