CHEMICAL AWARENESS

The bottle looks cute and makes promises of a germ free environment.  The bottle may even warn of immediate health dangers or poisoning but what’s missing from the label is the hidden danger of long term toxicity.  Conventional cleaning products found at your grocery store wreak havoc on the respiratory system, cellular health and even mental clarity of those who are exposed to them.

The Volatile Organic Compounds, (gases emitted from certain solids or liquids which represent a variety of chemicals) of the cleaning agents remain in the air long after the surface has been cleaned. While there is not yet a standard of safety established for non-industrial buildings, it is interesting to note that OSHA does regulate the carcinogenic VOC formaldehyde to a permissible level of .75ppm.

• The average home measures an astonishing VOC level of 50ppb.

• Common furniture polish reads 275 ppb after exposure while surfaces wipes often requested on the school shopping lists measure 1.798 ppb after use.

• Most shocking of all is the VOC measure of a common surface spray advertising to kill 99.9% of germs at 12,000+ ppm.

Notice we have now moved from parts per billion to parts per million. It is no wonder that the quality of air inside your home is now five to seven times more toxic than outdoor air quality. The consumer household cleaning products sales market was a 7.3 Billion dollar industry in 2007. The good new is, thanks to consumer awareness, the sale of chemical household products is slowing from a previous growth rate of 10% annually. Perhaps a new DIY ingredient savvy generation is to thank.