SHOPPING FOR SAFER 
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS
SHOPPING FOR SAFER
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS
The household chemicals we use have until recently been considered to berelatively safe. We are now discovering that this can be far from the truth.The cleaning products used in most homes can cause indoor air qualityproblems,possible severe chemical burns and other health problems from ingestion orabsorption.
A recent EPA report concluded that the toxic chemicals in household cleanersare three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution. Thefumes you smell from many cleaning products likely are harmful in some way. In one study conducted over a 15 year period, women who worked at home had a54% higher death rate from cancer than women who had jobs away from the home. The study concluded that the increased death rate was due to daily exposureto hazardous chemicals found in ordinary household products. The children in the house are more likely to be affected than adults becausethey are closer to the floors where much of the fumes come from and they arestill growing so use more of what they are exposed to.
You do not have to take these chances. There are products on the markettoday which are much safer to use and yet are just as effective. Theseproducts are also safer for the environment outside of the home. They areusually readily biodegradable and contain no toxic ingredients like benzene,butyl carbitol, chlorine and formaldehyde. These products will work aseffectively as their toxic competitors without the bad side effects.
You can get all purpose cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, glass cleaners,dishwashing detergents, laundry detergents, etc. in safer products that willgreatly reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. As the public demandgrows, more of these products will begin to appear on the grocery storeshelves and in the discount stores. In the meantime you will have to go toa little more effort to obtain these products, but it could be time well spentfor your health.
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