Health Hazards in Household Cleaners Exposed

[flashl]

Use of certain cleaning products reduces lung function, increases asthma risk, studies find

Posted July 25, 2008

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- A clean, fresh-smelling home may actually be bad for your health, depending on what type of cleaning and air freshening products you use.

Recent research suggests that exposure to cleaning products or air fresheners that contain a certain volatile organic compound (VOC) called 1,4 dicholorobenzene (1,4 DCB), can reduce lung function by 4 percent. Another study found that the use of spray household cleaners could increase the risk of developing asthma by nearly 50 percent.

Yet a third study, reported by University of Washington researchers this week in the journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review, found that the fumes from air fresheners and fragrances contain hazardous toxins, none of which were listed on product labels since companies are not required by the federal government to disclose the ingredients in these products.

...

The second study was conducted in Europe and included 3,500 people from 10 countries. The study, published recently in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that regular use of cleaning sprays -- such as air fresheners, furniture cleaners and glass cleaners -- was linked to a 30 percent to 50 percent increased risk of asthma.

[Kali]

1. good old clorox - the best most toxic and safest disinfectant!

Hot water and detergent work pretty damn good too. If things are actually clean you don't need artificial stenches to make "seem" clean. Buy some real flowers for fucks sake.

[flashl]

2. Have you ever created a clorox cloud? I have. nt

Just in case.
:rofl:

[Kali]

6. only accidentally with "natural" ammonia, if you know what I mean

(forgetting to flush the toilet that was soaking)

[flashl]

7. YES. nt

[madrchsod]

3. i use peroxcide,vinegar,and baking soda

for most of my cleaning. i`ll use the bad chemicals as a last resort.

i`ve cut back on bleach use..i think it`s not all that great for the river

[kestrel91316]

4. When I suspect asthma in one of my feline patients, I always warn the client

to NOT use any air fresheners or smelly cleaners or carpet freshening powders.

[damntexdem]

5. I knew cleaning house was bad for people.

[Celebration]

8. the very worst is oven cleaner

Thank goodness for self cleaning ovens now.

[yy4me]

9. By far the worst for me to use was Tilex. I choked so badly

that I threw it out. It literally took my breath away. Several others I have tried and will never use again all seem to be in the hand-held spray bottles. From now on, its bleach, OR ammonia, ajax or Bar keepers friend. Spic & Span for my walls, and those new little white sponges are great. Mr Clean makes the brand name but Target sells them under the house brand and calls them "multi-use erasers. Whey work wonderfully and do not dribble as the sprays do.