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PrintSpecial Report: Concealed Chemicals
You use them everyday to clean your house, wash your hair, and make-up your face. But could the ingredients that make these products work make you sick?A new report "Cabinet Confidential" uncovers potentially dangerous chemicals inside 40 popular household products.
Jan Pendlebury, National Environmental Trust
"We can start in the kitchen."
The National Environmental trust is behind this revealing report. They showed... Jennifer Drucker, a mother of 2, from Needham... What possible hazards are hiding inside her cabinets.
"These cleaning products have glycols in them."Jan Pendlebury, National Environmental Trust
Glycols are toxins that could cause fetal damage or harm the nervous system. Animals repeatedly exposed to certain Glycols have suffered brain damage. Glycols were found in some all purpose cleaners, hair gels, foundations, lipsticks, eye shadows, and lotions.
" A lot of these products tested also have phthalates in them."Jan Pendlebury, National Environmental Trust
Phthalates are toxins that could harm the reproductive system. These chemicals were found inside popular shampoos, conditioners, gels, nail polish, lipsticks and foundations. And a common disinfectant spray that gets rid of odors may be releasing bisphenol-A, that in small doses could cause fetal damage. But there's only a small amount of these chemicals inside the products. And these findings are based solely on animal studies.
"We know very little about the impact of those chemicals on the human body. We know that we ingest them. We inhale them and we absorb them through our skin."Jan Pendlebury, National Environmental Trust
Brian Sansoni, The Soap & Detergent Assoc.
"These products are used safely and effectively every single day.
Since these chemicals are not active ingredients the government doesn't require them to be listed on the label. Instead they could simply be called something like fragrance or flavor.
" We think the government should start to look at testing the safety of the chemicals before they are allowed to be put in the product."Jan Pendlebury, National Environmental Trust
Industry representatives say constant and thorough research already takes place before any of these products even hit store shelves.
"We're always concerned when people in essence may be discouraged from using beneficial hygiene products when they read reports that are meant to scare people about hypothetical fears rather than talking about real life scenarios."Brian Sansoni, The Soap & Detergent Assoc.
The best way to stay safe is follow directions. When you're cleaning wear gloves, open windows, and make sure your kids are not in the room especially if they suffer from asthma.
Jennifer Drucker, Mother
"That's something for me as a parent I need to be really conscious of. This was definitely an eye opener."
If you want to stay away from chemicals..look for natural or organic products.Also, on the back of every container there's a toll free number you can call to find out what chemicals are used in the ingredients.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
WWW.NET.ORG
THE SOAP AND DETERGENT ASSOCIATION:
http://www.cleaning101.com/whatsnew/07-14-04.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTS:
http://www.mass.gov/epp/products.htm
THE SOAP AND DETERGENT ASSOCIATION
http://www.cleaning101.com/health