According to the American Lung Association, there are many cleaning supplies and household products on the market causing numerous health conditions from minor things like throat or eye irritation to headaches all the way to major things like cancer. Read more about it here… https://www.lung.org/…/cleaning-supplies-household-chem
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health studied 2,983 ingredients in our products at home and found 884 toxic ingredients. The studies showed: 314 of them caused biological mutations; 218 caused reproductive problems; 376 caused eye and skin irritation; 778 were toxic to the human body; 146 (they knew) caused cancerous tumors; and they are allowed in the United States, even though banned in other countries. These chemicals are allowed in nearly every type of cleaning supply in the United States (common things in your cabinets right now). Even organic cleaners have some known naturally derived carcinogens.
And, did you know? – twenty-six seconds after exposure, chemicals are found in measurable amounts in the human body. The average woman can apply up to 300 chemicals a day to her body, sometimes 80 before breakfast!
The top 10 most dangerous chemicals in our home: air fresheners, like plug-ins or candles, chemical cleaning supplies for counters, floors, toilets, drain and ovens. Furniture polish, dishwasher soap, and dish soap are also culprits. Beauty supplies and personal care products: hair spray, gel, shampoo, and deodorant. One top pollutant in the home is laundry soap and fabric softener (which you wash your clothes with and put on your skin when wearing the clothes). It outgases in your closet all night long. That information is based on information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Top 10 Killer Household Chemicals: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/us/epa-toxic-chemicals.html as reported by the NY Times.
When choosing products to use in our homes, it seems easiest to just grab whatever items are available at our local stores. However, those products may not be the safest. Sadly, many of them – even the “green” ones – contain ingredients you do NOT want in your house or anywhere near your family. What ARE those ingredients and why don’t we want to use them? Take a look!
• Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, and TEA) – These are found in many household and personal care products and have been linked to organ system toxicity, bioaccumulation, and even cancer.
• Formaldehyde – This is a preservative often seen in lotions, cosmetics, and baby wipes. It’s a known carcinogen and can cause skin and respiratory irritations.
• Fragrance – The word “fragrance” can appear on a label and contain an enormous list of ingredients a company is not required to disclose, as it is considered a ‘trade secret.’ That means a product could contain some awful ingredients and the consumer wouldn’t even know! These chemicals could be linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and sensitivities. Why take a risk?
• Phthalates – These are a group of chemicals found in personal care products and many plastics and vinyl. They can affect your endocrine system, reproductive health, and even potentially cause cancer.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) – These are surfactants commonly used as an emulsifying cleaning agent in household cleaning products (laundry detergents, spray cleaners, and dishwasher detergents). In other words, they keep things mixed up and help them create lather. Oftentimes they are synthetically derived and have the potential to cause skin irritation.
• Triclosan – Recently it was banned by the FDA to be used in “antiseptic washes” and yet it can still be found in some other products like toothpaste, cosmetics, and even clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and toys. It can affect the thyroid and endocrine system.
• VOCs – Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted into the air. They’re found in some building materials, home and personal products, gasoline, and even things like glue and permanent markers. Breathing VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation as well as difficulty breathing and nausea, even damage to the central nervous system and other organs. Some VOCs can even cause cancer.
These are just a FEW of the ingredients you want to avoid when bringing products into your home.
So, what to do?
- Ask us how to start – where to find toxin free replacements.
- Read labels before buying products
- Look for pure, non-toxic products to replace the toxins you currently use
- Throw out the toxins – better yet, take them to your local toxic waste department, most landfills have them.
Start living clean and toxin free!
Dr Armour
Armour Chiropractic
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram: https://facebook.com/ArmourChiros https://instagram.com/ArmourChiros