Dangers Of Harsh Chemicals In Traditional Cleaning Products. We all know the beauty of the Garden City of the World. Singapore holds its head high when everyone’s talking about cleanliness. This multicultural country takes pride in its hard work and plays complex culture. But, despite the hustle and bustle culture, people here managed to keep everything clean.
A single click on the Internet will let you see the country’s cleanliness. That is, of course, possible with the help of cleaning products. We all rely heavily on cleaning products to ensure our homes are clean and well-kept.
However, we can’t overlook that some of them threaten our health. We must know the dangers of harsh chemicals in traditional cleaning products. This article highlights the dangerous chemicals you must be mindful of when buying cleaning products.
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How do household cleaning products affect your health?
As a responsible consumer, you should know the effects of the products you use to clean your home. Numerous cleaning agents can irritate your eyes and throat. A person may even experience headaches when overexposed. The reason for that is that these products contain harmful and toxic chemicals. These chemicals may vaporize at room temperature, which makes them highly susceptible to inhalation. They may lead to chronic respiratory diseases, allergic reactions, and asthma.
Common ingredients to look out for:
1) Ammonia
Many of you have probably heard that most cleaning products contain ammonia. Ammonia is among the leading ingredients used in cleaning products. Although existing naturally, too much exposure to ammonia is still a health hazard we must look out for. This intense, colorless gas is found in cleaning agents.
Your nose, respiratory tract, and throat may burn when exposed to high concentrations. Studies have concluded that ammonia damages organs like the kidney and the liver. Exposure to low concentrations may irritate the eyes and skin. Could you check the label to see if it indicates ammonia is there?
2) Coal Tar dyes/Products
They say that colors are one of the best ways to attract consumers. Many companies have employed emotions associated with colors as a marketing principle. And little did we know even our colorful cleaning products can cause harm despite their beauty. The main ingredient behind these colorful cleaning products is called coal tar dyes.
Coal tar contains traces of heavy metals, which include arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Synthetic dyes like coal tar are primarily used to alter or change the color of a specific product.
Think of the typical light blue in dishwashing liquid or the bright purple in laundry soap. When used to clean, these dyes may contribute to indoor pollution. They are also prone to be absorbed by the skin or ingested due to residues left behind. Human carcinogens like coal tar put us at risk of acquiring cancer.
You don’t want this ingredient in the products you regularly use. Coal tar dyes eventually build up and can have harmful effects on us. You can look on the labels for FD&C and D&C, common indicators that the product has coal tar.
3) Fragrances and Parfum
This is terrible news because who doesn’t want a pleasant scent in their house? All of us probably have products in our house that contain fragrance. Although they can occur naturally, they are not the best option as they can cause allergies. That’s why synthetics are mainly used, especially in cleaning products.
There are thousands of chemicals that are used to make these fragrances. When inhaled, these products can cause hormone disruptions and other harm. Such developments cause skin allergies, asthma, and reproductive and neurological impacts.
In fragrances and scented products, we can also find phthalates. Phthalates are linked to damage in the lungs, kidneys, and liver. It would be best to look out for this ingredient to free yourself from harm. Look for fragrance, phthalate, DEHP, DEP, and DBP on labels.
4) 2-Butoxyethanol
This ingredient is typically used as a solvent. It is a colorless liquid with a sweet scent primarily used in household cleaning products. This substance belongs to the family of glycol ethers. The reason they are used is that they can remove dirt with ease and require no scrubbing effort. Your household products like liquid soaps, all-purpose sprays, and glass cleaners contain butoxyethanol.
This substance is also found in carpets, cars, and rust removers. According to studies, accidental swallowing or ingestion of this substance can cause harmful effects. You are cleaning products containing butoxyethanol cause several health issues. It causes harm to the kidneys, skin, eyes, and blood. When exposed, you may have breathing problems, lowered blood pressure, and blood in the urine.
Just like everyday cleaning products, you should keep this out of the reach of children. You may look for it on the label 2-BE, Ethylene Glycol, and Butyl Cellosolve.
How can you prevent harm from cleaning agents?
Your safety should be the utmost priority, even when it’s about cleaning your home. We spend most of our time inside our houses, so ensuring the quality of our products is essential. When buying cleaning products, always read the labels first. Opt for products that do not contain VOCs, fragrances, or other harmful chemicals. If you can’t, go for those with significantly reduced amounts of toxic chemicals.
Please remember that companies are only obligated to list some ingredients in consumer products. You should be aware that products that claim to be “green” are not necessarily safer. By reading our article and researching, you are saving yourself from trouble.
Conclusion
You should never underestimate the dangers of harsh chemicals in traditional cleaning products. Even though your home is squeaky clean, toxic substances are still lurking around. Indeed, it is up to your discretion to decide which harmful ingredients you want to look out for. You can determine which products to use; however, always keep the area properly ventilated.
