Harmful Household Items
Harmful Household Items
Michael Braun
Le Cordon Bleu
Environmental Science
ENV333 - 02B
Susanne Marshall
December 11, 2013
Harmful Household Items
There are many items around your house that you use every day that could potentially be harmful if not handled, stored, and disposed of properly. I went through and picked out some items around my house that could be harmful:
Scented Dish Soap – Dish soaps that have a fragrance usually contain a chemical called phthalates that can disrupt the endocrine system in men with high counts of phthalates in their system, which causes these men to have a lower than normal sperm counts.
Carpet/Upholstery cleaner – Contains a chemical called perchloroethylene, which is a neurotoxin, according to the chief scientist of environmental protection for the New York Attorney General’s office (Sholl, 2011). The EPA classifies it as a possible carcinogen and is found in many carpet and dry cleaning products used commercially every day.
Antibacterial Hand Soaps – contains triclosan, which is an antibacterial agent that can possibly affect the hormones, but studies are still being done to test the actually risks. It is also known to help breed antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Fabric softener – Contains Quarternary Ammonium Compounds, or “QUATS”, which has the same health risks as triclosan as stated previously.
Multipurpose Cleaner – Contains 2-Butoxyethanol which in small doses can cause a sore throat but in higher doses can cause kidney and liver damage when it is inhaled.
Glass Cleaner – Contains ammonia, which is also found in furniture polishes, can cause health problems when inhaled, but is more hurtful to people with asthma and other breathing problems.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Probubly one of the most common chemicals we come in contact with is Chlorine, and it is an ingredient in toilet bowl cleaner, that can have acute respiratory effects but usually not anything chronic.
Drain openers – Contains
Michael Braun
Le Cordon Bleu
Environmental Science
ENV333 - 02B
Susanne Marshall
December 11, 2013
Harmful Household Items
There are many items around your house that you use every day that could potentially be harmful if not handled, stored, and disposed of properly. I went through and picked out some items around my house that could be harmful:
Scented Dish Soap – Dish soaps that have a fragrance usually contain a chemical called phthalates that can disrupt the endocrine system in men with high counts of phthalates in their system, which causes these men to have a lower than normal sperm counts.
Carpet/Upholstery cleaner – Contains a chemical called perchloroethylene, which is a neurotoxin, according to the chief scientist of environmental protection for the New York Attorney General’s office (Sholl, 2011). The EPA classifies it as a possible carcinogen and is found in many carpet and dry cleaning products used commercially every day.
Antibacterial Hand Soaps – contains triclosan, which is an antibacterial agent that can possibly affect the hormones, but studies are still being done to test the actually risks. It is also known to help breed antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Fabric softener – Contains Quarternary Ammonium Compounds, or “QUATS”, which has the same health risks as triclosan as stated previously.
Multipurpose Cleaner – Contains 2-Butoxyethanol which in small doses can cause a sore throat but in higher doses can cause kidney and liver damage when it is inhaled.
Glass Cleaner – Contains ammonia, which is also found in furniture polishes, can cause health problems when inhaled, but is more hurtful to people with asthma and other breathing problems.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Probubly one of the most common chemicals we come in contact with is Chlorine, and it is an ingredient in toilet bowl cleaner, that can have acute respiratory effects but usually not anything chronic.
Drain openers – Contains
References: Guide for Handling Household Chemicals. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/environmental/household.html Sholl, J. (2011). 8 Hidden Toxins: What’s Lurking in Your Cleaning Products? Retrieved from http://experiencelife.com/article/8-hidden-toxins-whats-lurking-in-your-cleaning-products/