Eliminate Cancerous Roots in Our Homes: A Guide to Discovering and Avoiding the Hidden Dangers of Household Cleaning Products

Everybody is aware of the dangers of traffic smog and agricultural pesticides but may not know that indoor pollution can also have significant ill-effects. Over the past several decades, researchers have come to believe our exposure to indoor pollutants has increased significantly.  Building construction materials, interior furnishings, appliances, office equipment, and biological agents all contribute to pollution inside our living environments. In addition, many consumer products we take for granted make our homes and places of work unsafe. Some of these products include chemically formulated personal care products, indoor pest control products, and household cleaners.

The not so obvious danger

For now, let's focus on household cleaning products, because these are the most common yet most overlooked source of exposure to cancer risks. Cleaning products are the leading cause of toxic air pollution in our homes, according to the Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices published by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Stop and think about the bottles and containers of chemical cleaners sitting in your cabinets, and under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms. With their colorful labels and promises of cleaning away dirt and germs, we think of them as beneficial.  After all, anything that destroys germs on contact has to be good, right?  Well, not if they are linked to causes of cancer.
 
Why we should be concerned

Unfortunately, some toxic chemicals and even carcinogens are among the ingredients of household cleaners. Toxic air pollutants can cause cancer. Accumulated evidence indicates cancer causing chemicals and toxins in our environment trigger cancer cells to start growing out of control. Also, toxic air pollutants can cause birth defects, not to mention other health complications such as skin burns, eye irritation, breathing problems, and endocrine disorders.

In the past, we paid little attention to our exposure to everyday household products, because the concentrations of toxic ingredients were considered to be too low to have any effect. However, a growing body of research has demonstrated that harmful effects can occur at concentrations far lower than what were previously believed. The cumulative effects of different chemicals and their long-term impact on our health and environment are largely unknown.

What role do chemicals play in household cleaners?

Many chemicals are used to make a variety of household and industrial cleaners because of their functions (such as solvents). Ironically, ingredients that sanitize countertops or deodorize carpets may also cause negative effects in the body. Take a can of insecticide used to kill unwanted guests as an example.  It will, no doubt, contain a variety of toxic organic compounds including carcinogens.  Dyes, detergents, disinfectants, deodorizers, drugs, glues, window-cleaning products, moth repellents, and toilet deodorant blocks, among other product types, are known to be toxic, even carcinogenic.

Solvents form one of the most useful but dangerous chemicals found in cleaning products. Despite their usefulness, solvents can pass rapidly through the skin, producing high levels of toxins in the bloodstream within minutes. Nearly all solvents can cause acute and chronic injury to the central nervous system, and some are associated with development of kidney disease or kidney failure. Others cause acute toxic damage to the liver.

Which chemicals are toxic and/or carcinogenic

The following are some examples of the most commonly encountered toxins:

• Ammonia
• Benzene: a known carcinogen
• Chlorine
• 1,4-Dioxane: a possible human carcinogen
• Formaldehyde: a known carcinogen
• Naphthalene: a possible human carcinogen
• Vinyl Chloride: a known carcinogen
• Xylene

• Oven cleaners
• Drain cleaners
• Wood and metal cleaners and polishes
• Toilet cleaners
• Tub, tile, shower cleaners
• Bleach (laundry)

• Consumers: They are exposed to carcinogens, toxins or toxic air pollutants due to unhealthy emissions from some cleaning products and air fresheners.
• Women:  Housewives who often do household cleanings or those who clean occupationally are more prone to encounter excessive exposures to these pollutants, owing to cleaning product emissions.
• Children: Children are the most vulnerable victims of indoor air pollutants, due to their susceptibility to inhale toxins, their developmental features, and their time spent indoors. 

What you can do to protect yourself and your family

Finally, choosing a right cleaning agent can be an overwhelming experience. You can research all the ingredients, yet there still will be some ingredients that are undisclosed by the manufacturers. Although U.S. regulations require product labeling that outlines the main ingredients in the product, the labels for consumer cleaning products often provide little information on health hazards associated with toxic ingredients. That's why we provide you with the following tips and solutions:

Alternatives to chemically based products:

1. The most effective and healthy way is to use E-Cloth cleaning, which is chemical free and carcinogen free. E-Cloth cleans effectively based on microfibric function, not chemical reaction. So it's perfect, worry free cleaning just with water.
2. Choose natural cleaners as an alternative. Natural products like baking soda, lemon, vinegar, along with water, can clean with a satisfactory result.
3. Limit your exposure to environmental toxins like pest control products, household chemicals, synthetic air fresheners, and air pollutants.

If you must use chemicals, it is absolutely necessary to do the following:

1. Always read the label first and follow the directions.
2. Research, and check on manufacturers' web site or call the companies to release all ingredients involved in the products, especially known and possible carcinogens to human. Stay away from those products. We have provided some online resources where you can get more information about hazardous ingredients.
3. Always keep chemical products in their original bottles or containers with the labels. Never put them in other containers or food containers to prevent anyone from mistaking as food or drink.
4. Never mix household products or chemicals together, because it can lead to the formation of poisonous gases/substances and can be potentially lethal.
5. Turn on the fan and open the windows to keep the area well-ventilated when using household chemical products. 
6. Wear necessary protective clothing (gloves, long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes) when using chemicals or spraying pesticides.
7. Do not eat or drink while using hazardous products so to avoid traces of hazardous chemicals being transferred from hand to mouth. Smoking while using chemicals is most dangerous — an invitation for a fire if the products are flammable.
8. You have the right to voice your opinion. Let the manufacturers know their responsibilities in disclosing ingredients.

Special tips to protect kids from the exposure to clearning chemicals:

1. Always keep household chemicals in a secure and safe place, especially in closed cabinets out of reach for children. Return the products to the childproof cabinet as soon as you are done with them. Again, always keep chemical products in their original bottles/containers (see the above).
2. Never leave children alone with chemical products. In case you must leave the place due to urgent issues during house cleaning, take young kids with you.
3. Always keep children, toys, and pets away when pesticides are applied; don't let kids play in the fields, orchards, or gardens after pesticides have been used for at least the time recommended on the pesticide label.

Take home message:

It is clear why we need to reconsider household cleaning supplies. A smell of "freshness" and satisfaction from clean settings can mask hazardous fumes and substances that bring long-term harm to human health. Let's take personal responsibility to help reduce air pollutants in homes, offices, schools and other indoor environments where we live, work, and play, starting with indoor cleaning.

References:
1. Boffetta P. Epidemiology of environmental and occupational cancer. Oncogene. 2004; 23:6392–6403.
2. Brower M, Leon W. The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. By Three Rivers Press, 1999. 
3. Environmental Protection Agency World Wide Website: http://www.epa.gov
4. Landrigan PJ, Garg A. Chronic effects of toxic environmental exposures on children’s health. Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology. 2002;40(4):449-56.
5. Loh MM, Levy JI, Spengler JD, Houseman EA, Bennett DH. Ranking cancer risks of organic hazardous air pollutants in the United States. Environmental Health Perspective. 2007; 115(8):1160-8.
6. Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program.
7. Singer BC, Destaillats H, Hodgson AT, Nazaroff WW. Cleaning products and air fresheners: emissions and resulting concentrations of glycol ethers and terpenoids. Indoor Air. 2006;16(3):179-91.
8. Toxic Substances Portal. From: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)