(NaturalNews) Perhaps you have had a sudden headache or became nauseous for no apparent reason while cleaning and wondered why; perchance your body is trying to tell you something is wrong with the indoor air you are breathing. Indoor air is much more polluted than outside air. Doctors have finally realized that common chemicals in cleaning products can adversely affect you and the air you breathe. Household cleaning products are among the most deadly substances encountered daily.
Synthesized chemicals appeared after World War II. These are found in carpet, oven, drain and floor cleaners, and in laundry detergents. These items are mostly petrochemical--petroleum-based--and are quite toxic to your body when breathing and swallowing. These cleaning products can cause damage to the heart, lungs, liver, brain and kidneys. In addition, they can cause dizziness and irritation to the skin and eyes. The EPA found that some homes have chemical levels that are 70 times higher than the outside air. Most automatic dishwasher and laundry detergents contain bleach, and when these are mixed with water they form vapors that pollute the air in the house. A study conducted for more than 15years concluded that women who worked at home had a 54 per cent higher death rate from cancer than women who worked away from home. Toxic household cleaning products have been accused of causing an increase in cancer, ADD, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, asthma, lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and other ailments. Moreover, there has been an allergy and asthma explosion.
Practically no human studies have been done on most of the chemicals in cleaning products. It has been assumed by the industry that they are "safe until proven toxic." The thought has prevailed, until recently, that if a product is available on the store shelf, it is safe; however, many people have found, through painful experiences, that this fact is not true. Most toxic products are not required to list ingredients. However, most natural products DO list ingredients because they are harmless.
Changing your cleaning products to natural ones, such as vinegar, baking soda, borax, and citrus oils is not difficult to do. Actually, non-toxic-living products are ideal for people who wish to reduce their exposure to unhealthy and hazardous ingredients. There are many, many natural cleaning products on the market today that are cheaper, and as good as or even better than, the toxic ones. After all, our mothers and grandmothers have used the natural products for centuries.
Any changes to the use of natural cleaning products will be better, safer, and healthier for you and for the environment. A quote made by Margaret Mead some 40 years ago is still apropos today: "Not war, but a plethora of man-made things is threatening to strangle, suffocate, and bury us in debris of by-products of our technical, inventive, and irresponsible age."
www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_279.cfmwww.healthreport.co.uh/toxic_household_chemicals.htmwww.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=householdwww.senenthgeneration.com/learn/guides/guide-creating-healthy-homeAbout the author
Alice E. Marson is a natural health published author and researcher. She is a retired teacher and writes for Mature Living and ActiveAmericans.com mainly on health topics.
As a breast cancer survivor she is a strong believer in natural and alternative medicine and avoiding prescription drugs.
Alice has given public and TV presentations on toxic products in the home.
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