Life Style Sciences - Essay Example

Many of the products that we use on a daily basis and consider safe are in fact health risks. Among them are chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite which is a lung, skin and eye irritant. Glass cleaners contain ammonia. Skin contact with this chemical can cause irritation. Fumes may cause a burning sensation in the lungs and eyes. Children and those with asthma are especially susceptible. If ammonia is mixed with chlorine it produces a toxic gas. Phenol and cresol are found in disinfectants. It is corrosive and may cause diarrhea, fainting dizziness and lung and kidney damage. Many detergents contain phosphates which are not in themselves dangerous but build up in lakes in streams to toxic levels. Your house may be clean and you may be safe from bacteria, but you are not safe from chemical exposure from the products you use. Because these products are not intended for ingestion they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA. If statements as the following are readily made by the EPA one wonders why some products are still available for home use. "In addition, some literature suggests children with asthma may be affected by other pollutants found in schools from such sources as un-vented stoves or heaters and common products such as cleaning agents, perfumes, and sprays." (EPA) At the same time, under their section "Asthma and Indoor Environments," youll read: "Learn more about factors found in the indoor and outdoor environment that can cause, trigger, or exacerbate asthma symptoms and what you can do to reduce their impact. You might be surprised by the list of common environmental asthma triggers and how simple it can be to eliminate them from your environment." (EPA2) Children can be exposed to a number of air pollutants that come from sources inside homes, schools, and other buildings. Indoor sources include combustion sources such as gas stoves, fireplaces, and cigarettes; building materials such as treated wood and paints, furnishings, carpet, and fabrics; and consumer products such as sprays, pesticides, window cleaners, and laundry soap. Indoor air pollutants also can come from outside, as air pollution penetrates indoors. Information on the toxic effects of air pollutants from indoor sources indicates that they could pose health risks to children. (EPA) In response to this knowledge the Cosmetics and household industries have been self-regulated since 1938.  The FDA classifies products but does not regulate them. The Presidents Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children was established in April 1997 by executive order, and is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. They have no authority to take legal action. Given the special needs of the fragrance industry, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), Switzerland was founded in 1973 to represent the collective interest of the fragrance industry worldwide by providing and maintaining self-regulatory practices for the industry. Membership, which is open to all countries, comprises the national associations of fragrance manufacturers from Australia, Europe, the Far East, North America and South.America. This information is included under this topic because many detergents and cleaning supplies have fragrance added. (The Regulatory Control of Fragrances) There are alternatives. Until World War II householders used a limited number of simple substances to keep most objects in the house clean, order-free, and pest-free. Simple cosmetic preparations kept hair lustrous and skin supplied with the aid of ingredients such as eggs, oil, clay, vinegar, and herbs. The garden was fertilized and pests were kept down with natural substances. Weeds were weeded by hand. Other commonly used products are listed below. Baking Soda or sodium bicarbonate can neutralize acid; scrub shiny materials without scratching, deodorize, and be used extinguish grease fires. It can be used as a deodorizer in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, on upholstery and on vinyl. It can help deodorize drains. It can clean and polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin. It also softens fabrics and removes certain stains. Baking soda can soften hard water and it can be used as an underarm deodorant and a toothpaste. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water. It can deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold, boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent, remove stains, and can be used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches. Cornstarch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs, and starch clothes. Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant. Lemon Juice, which contains citric acid, is a deodorant and can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, clothes, and porcelain. It is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight. Mineral Oil, derived from seeds, is an ingredient in several furniture polish and floor wax recipes. Soap (NOT detergent) can be used in several ways. Castle soap can be used as a shampoo or as a body soap. Olive-oil based soap is gentlest to the skin. An all-purpose liquid soap can be made by simple dissolving the old ends of bar soap (or grated slivers of bar soap) in warm water. Steel Wool is an abrasive strong enough to remove rust and stubborn food residues and to scour barbeque grills. TSP is trisodium phosphate, a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, remove mildew or wax buildup, polish some metals, and deodorize. Vinegar can clean brick or stone, and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes. Use vinegar to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots and to shine windows without streaking. Washing Soda or SAL Soda is a sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. It can cut stubborn grease on grills, broiler pans, and ovens. It can be used with soda instead of laundry detergent, and it softens hard water. It is available from drug and chemical-supply stores. A number of private organizations exist to inform the public as to the dangers of chemicals in common use. The government has allowed self regulation of most common cleaning (either personal or household) products by the manufacturers. Superficially most of them will acknowledge that their products are safe. But check the labels on the products in your home. Ingredients are listed in very small print and by chemical name (for the most part). Other ingredients which may be toxic could be lumped under the heading inert ingredients. The bottle of Tide detergent I examined informed me that eye contact with the product should be avoided, and gave instructions if the product were to be ingested. Bibliography Anti-aging Choices and Youthful Health, 2005 http://antiagingchoices.com/harmful_ingredients/default.htm EPA, America’s Children and the Environment, 2004 http://www.epa.gov/envirohealth/children/contaminants/e5.htm EPA, Asthma and Indoor Environments, 2004 http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/about.html EPA, Children’s Health Protection, 2004 http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/regs.htm EPA2, Indoor Air-IAQ for schools, 2004 http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/asthma/asthma_in_schools.htm HY-TECH, Safe Substitutes at Home Non-toxic Household Products, 2004 http://www.hytechsales.com/toxicProducts.html ABOUT, Environmental Issues, Toxic Household Products, 2005, http://environment.about.com/cs/healt1/a/toxichouse.htm The Regulatory Control of Fragrances, 2005, http://www.ultrainternational.com/seminar/The%20Regulatory%20Control.htm Read More