Hazardous Chemical Ingredients

Modern cleaning products are designed to kill germs and mold, clean and whiten our clothes, get rid of stains, and clean up our messes. However, the germs that we are trying to kill may not necessarily be as dangerous as the products we are using to kill them with.

Chlorine (Sodium hypochlorite)

In paper products, like toilet paper and paper towels, chlorine bleach causes the formation of dioxin, an extremely toxic and persistent chemical known to cause cancer and disrupt the endocrine system. Customers can find chlorine-free paper products from virtually any natural food stores.

In cleaning products, chlorine bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, is a lung and eye irritant and if mixed with ammonia or acid-based cleaners (including vinegar), chlorine bleach releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to this gas may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems.

Monoethanolamine (MEA)  
A toxin found in some laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners and floor cleaners and is a known cause of occupational asthma.

Ammonium quaternary compounds - 
Disinfectants found in some disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners that have been identified as the cause of occupational asthma.

Phthalates
Is a carrier for fragrance in glass cleaners, deodorizers, laundry detergents and fabric softeners are linked to allergic symptoms and asthma in children.

Alkylphenols and their derivatives
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates are found in some laundry detergents, disinfecting cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, spot removers, hair colors and other hair-care products, and spermicides.

Alkylphenol Ethoxylates form Alkylphenols during their environmental breakdown. These phenols are slow to bio-degrade and have been shown to disrupt the endocrine systems of fish, birds, and mammals. 
 

Ammonia

Eye irritant, can cause headaches and lung irritation. If mixed with chorine, it releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems. 
 

Formaldehyde (a preservative in many products):

Suspected human carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin, and lungs. 
 

Hydrochloric Acid or Sodium Acid Sulfate (found in toilet bowl cleaners)

Either can burn the skin or cause vomiting diarrhea and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if inadvertently splashed in the eyes.

Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (found in mothballs)

Naphthalene is a suspected human carcinogen that may damage eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system; paradichlorobenzene can harm the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.

Nitrobenzene (found in furniture and floor polishes):

causes skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects.

Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (found in spot removers and carpet cleaners)

Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; perchloroethylene is an animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen

Phenol[jeb1] and Cresol (found in disinfectants):

A corrosive that can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage.

Phosphates 
Phosphates are minerals that act as water softeners. However, they also act as fertilizers which is why when phosphates are discharged into rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans they can cause a rapid growth of algae[sts3] , resulting in pollution of the water.

This Article was by Michelle At People's Natural Living