CLEANING THE HOUSE IS KILLING ME...Maybe It Really Is!

Valentines Day isn’t even here yet and I noticed Easter items in the stores.  That made me think of Spring cleaning, and all the chemicals we will be exposing ourselves and our precious little ones to.

If I had known then what I know now I would have handled it very differently as I do now.  Thought I had allergies along with the children, that no longer happens, but I no longer use the harsh chemicals that I once thought to be safe.

Some of our cleaners contain 2-butoxyetanol those are window cleaners, carpet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners and all purpose cleaners etc.  Long term use this chemical can be linked to cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and can affect the reproductive organs.

  

Formaldehyde can be found in air fresheners, carpet shampoo, carpet stain remover, deodorant, dishwashing liquids, make-up, perfume, and fabric softener which stays in your clothes and against your skin and you inhale it all day.

Read those labels protect yourself and your family make educated choices not those imposed on us by those catchy commercials.  I am attaching one of many links that you can look up to see what is in the products you are using.  Keep in mind we might be using several of them in one day.

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

Remember just because they sell it, doesn’t mean its safe….

Unsuspected Toxin Dangers

Perflurinated… can you pronounce it? Do you know what it is?  Many of us have it and have no idea.  If you think it might be a bit hard to say, it is twice as hard to get it out of the environment including the human body.  More information can be found on this website, http://pollutioninpeople.org/toxics/pfcs.

Perflurinated toxins can be found in Teflon products, and in micro-wave popcorn bags, it is the coating that prevents things from sticking.  These toxin containing products are used everyday in our homes, without our knowledge of the harm they may be causing us. The chemical in these products collect in our bones, fat and organs.  Even if you stop using all of these products the chemicals that we were already exposed to will be still found in our bodies many years later.

These chemicals are suspected in affecting the endocrine systems, along with PCBS and DDT, they don’t seem to break down in the environment.  More information can be read on these toxins and others in  “The Body Toxic: by Nena Baker.

Toxins In Your Home

After reading a few articles by Debra Lynn Dadd, here is what I learned.  Ninety-two percent of all poison exposures occur in the home, with everyday ordinary household items including make-up and cleaning products.

There are three ways of contacting these toxic chemicals, swallowing, (which mostly involves children) inhaling, or exposure on skin or in the eyes.  When hearing about toxic poisoning what comes to mind is ingesting them.  The fact is that you can be inhaling them, which can cause respiratory problems over time.  Toxins can be absorbed through the skin these include; lotions, crèmes, shampoos and make-up over time can leave there mark on your health.

Back in 1989 a study was done regarding 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products, 884 were toxic, 778 of these cause acute toxicity, 146 can cause tumors, 218 can cause reproductive complications.  Biological mutation could be caused by 314, and 376 could cause skin and eye irritations.  These personal care products although seem like ordinary everyday products that you use without giving any thought to, can be making your family sick.

Cleaning products such as household bleach, all purpose laundry cleaner and dish detergent showed to be more toxic then paint or car wax on aquatic life.  Bleach is used in dishwashing detergent and its residue is left on the dishes you and your family eat off of everyday. 

Toxins leak into the air in your home from the chemicals in these cleaning products when you use them and even when you aren’t using them, the products harmful fumes leak into the air from the sealed containers.  Just walk down the cleaning isle in your local store and you can smell an assortment of odors from the sealed cleaning products that are on the shelves.

Imagine what it does to out little children who are in the home when we are using these toxic products, cleaning to keep them safe! Think Again...

More information can be found by reading articles by:

Debra Lynn Dadd.

Judith Berns “The Cosmetic Cover Up”

Bodyburden study www.ewg.org/reportbodyburden/es.php

Exposure of homemakers to toxic Contaminants

American Association of Poison Control