Indoor Air Pollution

Do your household cleaners contain chlorine, phenol, ammonia, or formaldehyde? These toxic compounds are not cleaning your house, but making your home unhealthy. They are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and are derived from oil. VOC exposure can be associated with an odor but many are odorless. Both can be harmful. Thousands of different VOC compounds are produced and used in cleaning products. Currently in the USA there is almost no regulation of chemicals used in the home (the exception is pesticides).

Companies are not required by law to list the contents of their products and the laws for testing for long-term health effects are not enforced. VOC toxins, even trace amounts, can be absorbed into your body and organs within seconds of exposure.

Chemical manufacturers are not required to perform any health or safety studies prior to the marketing and sale of a chemical, to do any monitoring of chemicals once they are in use, and are allowed to claim virtually all information related to a chemical as confidential business information, thus forever shielding it from government and public review.

The Toxic Substances Control Act is the main law regulating chemicals and mostly protects the manufacturer. It prevents the EPA from requesting any data for health risks unless it has already been demonstrated by the EPA to pose such a risk. Risks cannot be assessed without this data, so this means that most chemicals in your home have not been properly tested.

Only immediate dangers of chemicals and toxic ingredients are required to be listed on the label by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Manufacturers are not required to state what kind of dangers a substance poses - only what to do or not do. They are also not required to list a warning if there is no data one way or another on whether a substance is toxic. Since it is difficult to require that testing be done many consumers are at risk.

VOC’s are harmful to your health

Symptoms of VOC exposure can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, asthma, and irritation to eyes, nose, and throat. The best health protection is to limit exposure to VOC compounds. If you are having health symptoms consult with an environmental health physician specialist. Such chemicals can cause cancer, skin irritation, asthma, lung irritation, interference with the reproductive system and normal function of liver and other organs.

Our exposure to these chemicals occurs through skin absorption, inhalation (breathing fumes), and ingestion (via contact with hands or food). Children are especially at risk to the potential harm of cleaning chemicals. A child’s developing body is less capable of metabolizing and excreting these toxins. Children are also interacting with their environment by tasting things, putting their fingers in their mouths, and rolling around on the floor. All these activities expose them to residue left from cleaning products, detergents, and pesticides.

The federal government has not set standards for VOC levels in non-occupational settings. EPA studies have found that indoor VOC levels were 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor ones. Since most studies are done on a single chemical little is known about combined chemical exposure. I encourage you to do your own research and suggest starting with:

www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/voc/index.htm

www.grist.org/article/possessions-cleaning/

blog.greenenergytv.com/blog/eco-friendly-living-2/0/0/chemical-toxins-

green.wikia.com/wiki/Toxins_in_Household_Cleaning_Products

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that “the ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly, from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health effect. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed. Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics. At present, not much is known about what health effects occur from the levels of organics usually found in homes. Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans.”

Obviously a good way to avoid chemical pollution is to use products that don’t contain VOC’s. Earth Care Market is founded on such a principle - we know that using our products will help you stay healthier by avoiding use of VOC’s.

Join the ‘Green Cleaning Revolution’ to really make a difference in your life and the health of our Mother Earth!!