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Most people spend more than half of their lives indoors. The significance
of indoor air-quality, has become more important in recent years
as a result of efforts to make our homes more energy efficient.
As we tighten up our homes to prevent heat exchange, we also prevent
air exchange and pollutants released into the home environment
are trapped for long periods of time. Second-hand cigarette smoke,
gas stoves, and wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are major sources
of indoor air pollution. But home products like cleaning agents,
aerosols, air fresheners, and disinfectants contribute to the problem.
These products may also contain hidden cancer-causing ingredients.
Q. What kinds of chemical ingredients should I be wary of?
A. There are a large number of chemicals included in air fresheners
and cleaning products that are suspected of causing human health
problems. Cancer Prevention Alert No. 8,
Hazardous
Ingredients in Household Products,
lists these in detail. The
Safe Shoppers Bible,
written by CPC Chairman Dr. Samuel Epstein and Board Member David
Steinman, is also a good resource for choosing household products.
Carry such a resource along when shopping for cleaning products
because many products do not disclose all ingredients, claiming
that ingredients are "trade secret."
Q. Are there specific brands of cleaners that are toxic or contain
toxic ingredients?
A. Yes. The following household products are commonly used in
many institutions or homes and should be avoided. The recommended
products are good choices for replacing any questionable product.
CLEANERS
- Heavy Duty Institutional Formula WHISTLE All Purpose Cleaner
with Ammonia (Drackett Products Company)
- Dee All-Purpose (Aerosol)
Cleaner (Dee Janitorial Supply)
Toxic Ingredient: Butyl Cellosolve, irritant, toxic to forming
cells, neurotoxic, toxic to kidney and liver
Safe Alternative: Ajax All-Purpose Liquid Cleaner Ammonia Fresh
- Super Extractor Cleaner (NYCO Products)
Toxic Ingredients: Butyl Cellosolve; Perchloroethylene, irritant,
neurotoxic, carcinogenic
Safe Alternative: Bon Ami Cleaning Powder
- Foamy Q & A (Spartan Chemical)
Toxic Ingredient: Butyl Cellosolve
Safe Alternative: Mr. Clean
GLASS CLEANERS
- Blue Glass Cleaner (NYCO PRODUCTS)
- Professional Windex Concentrate Glass Cleaner (S.C. Johnson Wax)
- Institutional Windex Powerized Formulation Glass Cleaner (Drackett
Products Company)
Toxic Ingredient: Butyl Cellosolve
Safe Alternative: 409 Glass and Surface Cleaner
CLEANSERS
- Ajax Oxygen Bleach
Cleanser (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
Toxic Ingredient: Crystalline Silica - eye, skin and lung irritant,
carcinogenic
Safe Alternatives: Comet Cleanser, Regular & Lemon Fresh; Bon
Ami Cleaning Powder
SPOT REMOVERS
- UNREAL (Bullen Midwest, Inc.)
Toxic Ingredient: Butyl Cellosolve
Safe Alternative: Baking Soda
DEODORANTS/FRESHENERS
- Big D Concentrated Aerosol Room Deodorant (Big D Industries)
Toxic Ingredient: Isopar (deodorized kerosene), manufacturer admits
wide range of toxic effects
Safe Alternatives: Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener; Airwick Stick
Up
- Fresh Para Blocks and Crystals (Fresh Products Inc.)
Toxic Ingredient: Paradichlorobenzene, toxic to liver and kidneys,
carcinogenic
Safe Alternatives: Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener; Airwick Stick
Up
Q. What else can I do to protect my indoor air quality?
A. Several common house plants are known for their use in the
removal of contaminants from indoor air. Spider plants and golden
pothos are recommended for carbon monoxide and formaldehyde removal.
Chinese evergreen, English ivy, peace lily, or Marginata remove
benzene. Trichloroethylene is best removed by a potted mum, a peace
lily or Warneckii (Dracaena deremeusis).
Make sure that rooms are well ventilated and that windows open.
Good ventilation is crucial to maintaining low levels of indoor
air pollution.
If you keep industrial solvents such as alcohol, toluene, degreasing
materials, do not store them in the house or in an attached garage.
An outside cabinet is the best location for such air pollutants.
For more information on indoor air quality and toxic household
products contact:
Samuel S. Epstein,
M.D.
Cancer Prevention Coalition
c/o University of Illinois at Chicago
School of Public Health, M/C 922
2121 W. Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612
epstein@uic.edu
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