Dying In The Name of Cleanliness
The Toxic Toll of Consumer Sanitation

this piece was originally published in in LOUDmouth, available on the web at www.calstatela.edu/usu/loudmouth, written by jennifer ashley

In our sanitation-obsessed society, it is all too easy to overlook the fact that the chemicals we’re using to remove every possible germ from our homes might be doing more harm than good. Products that can be found in virtually every home — laundry detergent, floor cleaner, window cleaner — along with products that we use on our bodies on a daily basis — shampoos, soaps, perfumes, toothpastes — generally contain toxins. So many toxins, in fact, that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. The range of symptoms that can result from short- or long-term exposure to many of the chemicals found in cleansing and cosmetics products includes problems with the nervous system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, etc. Cancer, hormone problems, and disorders such as ADD/ADHD have long been linked to exposure to toxins found in common household cleaning products. And not all products are created equal. Particularly toxic products include drain openers, paint thinners, aerosol sprays, and products that contain formaldehyde as a preservative — often found in polishes and cleaners. The good news is that many of these toxin-containing products can be replaced with less toxic items you can find easily and cheaply. With just baking soda, vinegar, and some warm water, for example, you can accomplish quite a few cleaning tasks that chemical manufacturers would have you believe require much more money, separate products, and many more pollutants.