Toxic Household Cleaning Products are Making You Sick (and more)

I became a hygiene freak at an early age, helping my mom o do housecleaning. I learnt to use all kinds of cleaning products at home but one particular incident changed my life. One day as I was spraying cleaning agent onto the mirror, I inhaled some of it and started to choke and cough non-stop. Then, I developed a terrible headache for days on ends with sinus problems and numbness on my face. I started to wonder what had actually happened to me and what was inside this bottle of cleaning product. This began my personal quest to holistic health.....

I read the ingredients and did some research (sorry, but no googling in those days), and was shocked to find out that there were a host of chemical compounds, most of which were derived from petroleum. These compounds are toxic to humans; ammonia was the main ingredient that caused my symptoms.

Read the Ingredients on the Product Labels

Herewith some of the common culprits:

1. Ingredients that are carcinogenic and 'endocrine disruptors' which can affect the hormone, developmental and reproductive:

·     Phthalates and its derivatives including B2BP, DBP, DEP etc. These are ‘plasticizers’ added to plastics to soften and make them last longer.

·     MEA TEA, DEA and their synonyms are synthetic chemicals. These are almost always used in products that foam. They are easily absorbed into the skin and highly toxic. Prolonged use of these ingredients can cause additional health problems of the respiratory systems and skin allergies.

They are identifiable by the prefix or designations –‘thanolamine’, ‘mide’, e.g. diethanolamine, triethanolamine, lanolieamide, cocamide, laurimide, oliemide, and phosphate.

·     1, 4-Dioxine is an unwanted byproduct of petroleum processed ingredients. Though it can be easily removed by manufacturers, it is contaminating almost 50 percent of our household cleaning and personal care products. It also causes allergies and is immunotoxic.

It is identifiable by the prefix or designations of 'PEG,' '–eth–,' 'Polyethylene,' 'Polyethylene glycol' 'Polyoxyethylene,' or '–oxynol–'

·      Benzene is a petrochemical used as aromatics as it has a sweet odor.

    2.   Ingredents that are "endorine discroptors" with prossible link to carcinogenicity

·     Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), a surfactant, is used as car wash cleaners and engine degreasers. They are the worst ingredients in household detergents and personal care products. They can penetrate the skin with even one wash, and reach the brain, eyes and liver causing irreversible damages.

·     Parabens and their synonyms (methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl parabens) are synthetic chemicals that manufacturers use as a low cost preservative to extend products shelf life. They affect the hormonal balance in both newborn and adults, even DNA damages. These ingredients also cause skin allergies and dermatitis.

 3.  Ingredients that can cause allergies - ammonia, chlorine bleach gas, synthetic fregrances and dyes. These contain allergens that can cause skin allergies and repiratory problems they are also neurotoxins that affect the immune and nervous system

Be an Informed Consumer

With all these toxic chemicals we use daily, it is no wonder that we have so many health problems. In Hong Kong, the laws on product labels are not comprehensive; there are many unregulated toxic substances and the government offers little guidance to the public. We are not adequately protected and businesses often omit, or even mislead, in their product labels. Think about this – would you buy a product if the label discloses the possible health threats, i.e. this household product is carcinogenic, neurotoxic, immunotoxic or teratogenic?

Going green for household cleaning products is definitely a wise choice for yourself and your loved ones.