Trying to Clean Your Home ... or Kill It?

Are You Trying to Clean Your Home ... or Kill It? Home may be where the heart is, but these days its also where the toxins are. According to The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American home generates over 20 pounds of household hazardous waste every year. Cumulatively its a whopping 1.6 million tons - thats 3.2 billion pounds - of household hazardous waste per year. 176,000 tons of that total is just from cleaning products. Those familiar, everyday cleaners, including tub, tile, shower and toilet cleaner; drain and oven cleaner; wood and metal polishes, laundry bleach and many more, are designated by the EPA as household hazardous waste and improper disposal "...can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health." Aare moms - who make most family purchases and still do most of the housecleaning - aware of the safety concerns about common household cleaners? Well, the Harris polling group conducted a telephone survey of 1,108 moms across the U.S. with children under the age of 18 living in their households, about home cleaners and safety. The bottom line: Americans need to look at whats under their own sinks. Many people seeking cleaner, greener lifestyles consider the impact of climate change, but very few think about the chemicals used every day in their own homes. Here are some key poll results and some expert implications: A study in contradictions: Almost all moms - 95% - agreed that household cleaning products can be toxic; 88% agreed that home cleaning products can be harmful to their health and their families health; and 61% agreed that the fumes from cleaning products bothered them. However, two-thirds of moms (70%) also agreed that home cleaning products are safe to use around their family, and only 49% agreed that their children may be exposed to household toxins. Acute Asthma Awareness: 81% of the respondents agreed that household cleaning products may trigger asthma in children and adults, reflecting high awareness of the suspected link between chemicals and what many call an epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that asthma increased 75% from 1980-1994 and in 2007, the EPA reported that an average of one out of every 13 school-age children suffers from asthma. Murky on Indoor vs. Outdoor Air Pollution: Only a little more than one-third (38%) of Moms agreed that the air inside their homes is more toxic than the air outside their homes, despite the proven fact. A five-year study by the EPA found that the organic pollutants inside the typical American home are two-to-five times higher than the air outdoors, caused by pollutants from common household products, including cleaners such as solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, cleansers and disinfectants, air fresheners and more. According to the EPA, health effects of organic pollutants include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, liver, kidney and central nervous system damage. The fumes given off by carpet cleaners can cause cancer and liver damage. Many cleaning agents yield high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including glycol ethers, which are regulated toxic air containments, and terpenes that can react with ozone to form secondary pollutants including formaldehyde and ultra-fine particles. Kidding Themselves about the Kids: Only half (49%) are concerned about their children coming in contact with the chemicals they use to clean their floors, and only about one-third (35%) believe that some rashes on their childrens skin are reactions to chemicals in the products they use. Only a small fraction of the more than 80,000 registered chemicals have been tested for human health concerns. Seeking a Safe Clean: 94% of moms said they would stop using their favorite cleaning product if they found out it may be harmful to their families health. (Copyright 2007 Newsroom Solutions, LLC) Delivered by Newsroom Solutions RNS-05-08-08 0831CDT