Dangerous shower gel? 16 Truly Scary Additives In Products You Use Every Day
According to the US Poison Control Centers, “A child is accidentally poisoned every 30 seconds and more than 50% of all poisonings occur in the home with children under 5 years of age.” But of course you keep your cleaning supplies out of reach and only use baby products on your young children, so your family is safe, right? But what is really in all those products, and what about the chemical residue left on your carpet, on your child’s pajamas, in the very air your family breathes every day?
Because young children are smaller than adults, they are exposed to more pollutants per pound of body weight. Their little bodies and immune systems are not yet fully developed, and they are most at risk from the cumulative effect of chemicals found in everything from air fresheners to laundry detergent.
I’ve listed below some commonly found ingredients and why you’ll never want them in your home again. Consider how many seemingly benign products, like deodorant and body wash, contain these harmful ingredients. And remember, even in small amounts, you put them on your skin, in your hair, in your clothes and in the air every day, year after year.
AMMONIA
Ammonia is fatal if ingested. 80% of all ammonia manufactured is used as a fertilizer. It is also used to make synthetic fibers, plastics, and explosives, and is added to many cleaning products, detergents, window cleaners, stain removers, bleaches, stains, and floor waxes. Swallowing even small amounts of liquid ammonia in your household cleaner can cause severe burns to your mouth and throat. If it gets into your eyes it can cause blindness. Ammonia is a corrosive substance that can burn the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, mouth, and digestive tract.
AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
Ammonium hydroxide is a colorless liquid chemical solution that forms when ammonia dissolves in water. It can also release ammonia gas into the air.
It can be found in many industrial products and cleaners, such as floor strippers, brick cleaners, and cement cleaners. This chemical can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips or tongue, esophagus, stomach or throat, vision loss, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which causes damage to all organs of the body), perforations in the skin tissue, and other symptoms.
BENZENE
This carcinogenic chemical can be absorbed through the skin and irritates the mucous membranes. It is poisonous when ingested and inhalation of vapors can be toxic. It is cited by the EPA and OSHA as a threat to public health. This chemical is found in oven cleaners, detergents, furniture polishes, stain removers, and nail polish removers.
Diseases associated with benzene include acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myelofibrosis and myeloid metaplasia, aplastic anemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma , thrombocytopenia Purpura, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), hematological cancers.
CHLORINE
This widely used chemical is a suspected carcinogen and certainly a strong irritant, and is responsible for many poisonings each year. The Clean Air Act of 1990 lists it as a hazardous air pollutant…yet you breathe it in every time you use it in your laundry products or tub and tile cleaners. And airborne residue remains on toilet paper, paper napkins, and paper towels.
Household bleach, used to whiten fabrics or remove mildew from surfaces, is a 5% solution of a stabilized form of chlorine. It is a strong corrosive that irritates or burns the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. Never mix bleach with toilet bowl cleaners or ammonia. Vapors can be DEADLY!
FORMALDEHYDE
Formaldehyde is highly toxic and a known carcinogen. It is used in the manufacture of glues, and is also a preservative in deodorants, disinfectants, cosmetics, vaccines, and is used to embalm bodies. Formaldehyde is used in shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, liquid hand soap, and bubble bath. Children’s products like bubble baths and baby shampoo even contain formaldehyde! Some health effects from formaldehyde exposure include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat…wheezing and coughing…fatigue, skin rashes, and severe allergic reactions. Formaldehyde is also used in sheets, mattresses, foams, plastics, and permanent press building materials.
GLYCOL ETHER
Glycol Ether can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation. It can also be dangerous for the reproductive system. This chemical can damage the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. It is rapidly absorbed through the skin and is found in some household cleaning products, paints, cosmetics, and perfumes.
Also known as butyl cellosolve (2-butoxy-1-ethanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, butoxyethanol, and butyl oxytol).
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
Hydrochloric acid is corrosive and irritating to the eyes and skin. May dissolve and destroy sensitive tissue on direct contact. The eyes, nose, and throat are easily irritated by vapors. Contact can cause burns, permanent scarring, and even blindness. This chemical is found in aluminum cleaners and rust removers.
KEROSENE
Kerosene (mineral turpentine) irritates the eyes and skin and can damage lung tissues. It is neurotoxic. Kerosene may contain the carcinogen benzene. It is found in all-purpose cleaners, waxes, and furniture polishes.
BLEACH
Sodium hydroxide (also known as lye, caustic soda, and soda lye) is an irritant to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. It can burn eyes, skin and internal organs. Bleach can cause lung damage, blindness, and be fatal if swallowed. It is found in household cleaners, oven cleaners, bathtub and tile cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and drain openers.
MORPHOLINE
Morpholine is extremely toxic. It is irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, and can cause liver and kidney damage. Reacts with nitrites to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. It can also aggravate lung/bronchial disease or cause difficulty breathing, burning skin, blindness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. This chemical is found in all-purpose cleaners, furniture polishes, and car polishes.
naphthalene
Naphthalene irritates the eyes and skin and can cause cataracts, corneal damage, and kidney damage. It is a suspected carcinogen. This chemical is extremely toxic to young children and infants, and can harm the blood of unborn babies. This chemical is found in mothballs, air fresheners, deodorizers, carpet cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners.
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
Organic solvents (carbon disulfide, n-hexane, methyl n-butyl ketone, toluene, trichloroethylene, perchlorethylene) are neurotoxic and central nervous system depressants. They are recognized as carcinogenic. These chemicals are found in all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, metal polishes, varnish and lacquer removers, dry cleaning solutions, paints and coatings, and adhesives.
Drinking water contaminated with perchlorethylene has implications for leukemia and birth defects. Long-term overexposure may affect the nervous system. This chemical is found in stain removers, degreasers, and dry cleaning fluids.
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
Petroleum products (benzene, toluene, xylene, benzene, naphthalene, and Stoddard solvent) are potent eye, skin, and respiratory irritants and are known or suspected carcinogens. Neurotoxic effects can lead to organic brain damage.
You are exposed to them in many common products, including heavy duty cleaners, stain removers, furniture polish, car polish, lice shampoo, home and garden pesticides, and flea control products, furniture polish and laundry products. Don’t assume these products are safe just because they aren’t banned (yet).
PHENOL
Phenol (alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol and nonyl phenoxy ethoxylate) is highly toxic and a suspected carcinogen. It can cause swelling, pimples, and hives. If ingested, it can cause circulatory collapse, convulsions, cold sweats, coma, and death. This chemical is found in all-purpose cleaners, air fresheners, disinfectants, furniture polish, and laundry detergents.
SODIUM BISULFATE
This corrosive chemical is harmful to the eyes and skin, and to internal tissues if ingested. It can cause asthma attacks. It is found in toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers.
EDTA
Also known as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or diammonium, this chemical is found in laundry detergent and is a skin irritant. It also irritates mucous membranes, leading to allergies, asthma, and skin rashes. This chemical does not biodegrade. It binds to heavy metals in our lakes and streams, affecting our water supply.
Now that you have some information, read the labels before you buy! Look for labels that say the product does not contain phosphates (phosphates cause excessive growth of aquatic plants, leading to suffocation of fish and other aquatic life). Phosphates are found in laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, and all-purpose cleaners. Look for products that specifically state “phosphate-free,” “solvent-free,” “petroleum-free,” etc. Better yet, look for products that contain only plant-based ingredients.
You can find healthy and natural alternatives, although it is not always easy. There are many great links on our Organic Eden website, shown below. Look for the Natural Home and Personal Care tabs at the top of the home page for information, tips, and links to all natural and safe products, where we’ve already done the research for you.
Be safe and healthy!