What's Really in my Cleaning Caddy?

In my blog yesterday, I asked the question, "What's the big deal about chemical cleaners?" Here's a small taste of chemicals that are in your cleaners, and what they do to your body, according to the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia¹:

• Ammonia - Undiluted, ammonia is a severe eye and respiratory irritant that can cause severe burning pain, and corrosive damage including chemical burns, cataracts and corneal damage. It can also cause kidney and liver damage.
• Benzene- Carcinogenic. Harmful amounts may be absorbed through skin. Irritating to mucous membranes. Poisonous when ingested. Inhalation of fumes may be toxic. Cited by the EPA and OSHA as a threat to public health. Found in oven cleaners, detergents, furniture polishes, spot removers, and nail-polish removers.
• 1,4-dioxane- Carcinogenic. Readily penetrates the skin. Formaldehyde - In lab tests, formaldehyde has caused cancer and damaged DNA. Formaldehyde is also a sensitizer, with the potential to cause asthma. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep.
• Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) - A corrosive chemical, sodium hypochlorite is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant, as well as a sensitizer. It is especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma, and can be fatal if swallowed. It may be a neurotoxin and toxic to the liver. Found in a wide range of household cleaners.
• Fragrance - Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic. Many compounds in fragrance are human toxins and suspected or proven carcinogens. In 1989, the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health evaluated 2,983 fragrance chemicals for health effects. They identified 884 of them as toxic substances. Synthetic fragrances are known to trigger asthma attacks. The US Environmental Protection Agency found that 100% of perfumes contain toluene, which can cause liver, kidney and brain damage as well as damage to a developing fetus. Symptoms reported to the FDA from fragrance exposure have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation.

We all need to clean, so how do we clean in a healthy way? We can use natural cleaners.