Taking a ‘toxic-tour’ around your home could be a completely eye-opening experience:

In The Kitchen

All-purpose cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, metal polishes, dishwasher detergents, disinfectants, drain cleaners, floor cleaners, glass cleaners, oven cleaners, scouring powder. These are all products which are generally found in most kitchens – and they all contain a potent cocktail of dangerous chemicals. These include:

·Sodium hypochlorite (in chlorine bleach) – if products containing this chemical are mixed with ammonia, or ammonia-containing cleaners, they release a toxic chloramines gas. Short term exposure may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or even more serious respiratory problems;

·Petroleum distillates (in metal polishes) – short-term exposure to this can cause temporary eye clouding. However, longer exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys and eyes;

·Ammonia (in glass cleaners) – an eye irritant which can also cause headaches and lung irritation;

·Phenol and cresol (in disinfectants) – these are corrosive and can cause diarrhoea, fainting, dizziness and liver and kidney damage. Phenol is suspected of causing cancer in humans;

·Nitrobenzene (in furniture and floor polishes) – this can cause skin discolouration, shallow breathing, vomiting and even death. When exposed to this chemical on a repeated basis it is also associated with cancer, genetic changes, birth defects and damage to the heart, liver, kidneys and central nervous system;

·Formaldehyde (a preservative in many products) – a human carcinogen which is also a strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin and lungs;

·Lye (in drain cleaners) – this is an extremely corrosive material that can cause severe skin burns. If ingested it can burn through internal tissues, damaging the oesophagus, stomach and the entire intestinal tract. Whilst lye itself poses no danger from inhalation, when used in drain cleaners it is mixed with volatile liquid chemicals such as ammonia and petroleum distillates which can release harmful vapours;

·Lye (in oven cleaners) – oven cleaners contain several toxic ingredients but by far the greatest dangers come from lye and ammonia. Oven cleaners in aerosol sprays are especially hazardous because the spray sends tiny droplets of lye and ammonia into the air;

·Chlorine (in scouring powders) – when powdered chlorine comes into contact with water it gives off fumes which can be highly irritating to eyes, nose, throat and lungs;

·Caustic soda (in oven cleaners) – also known as sodium hydroxide which is highly corrosive and even in dilute forms can attack organic matter – if it comes into contact with the skin or eyes it can cause severe irritation, deep burns and even blindness;

·Diethyl glycol alkyl ethers (in oven cleaners) – a group of chemicals which are also known as ethylene glycol ethers or EGE’s. Some of these have been implicated in causing birth defects when exposed over time and some have been shown to have destructive effects on blood cells.



In the Utility Room

There are a number of products here which are likely to contain toxic ingredients including carpet cleaners, room deodorizers, laundry softener, laundry detergent, mould and mildew cleaners and spot removers.

·Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (in spot removers and carpet cleaners) – can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested whilst perchloroethylene is a known animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen;

·Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (in mothballs) – naphthalene is a suspected human carcinogen that can also damage eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, skin and the central nervous system; paradichlorobenzene can damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys;

·Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulphate (in toilet cleaners) – either of these chemicals can burn the skin or cause vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach burns if swallowed. They can also cause blindness is splashed into the eyes;

·Residues from fabric softeners, as well as the fragrances commonly used in them, can be a skin irritant, especially to susceptible people;


In the Bathroom

Numerous cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain hazardous substances.

·Cresol, formaldehyde, glycols, nitrates/nitrosamines and sulphur compounds found in many shampoos

·Butane propellants in hair sprays, as well as formaldehyde resins;

·Aerosol propellants, ammonia, formaldehyde, triclosan, aluminium chlorhydrate in antiperspirants and deodorants;

·Glycols, phenol, fragrance and colours in lotions, creams and moisturisers.





x