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The simplest strategy is to remove or reduce products
like these, and substitute a less toxic, or non-toxic
alternative.
LICE SHAMPOO:
Especially vulnerable are
children, babies and pregnant mothers. Maldison or Malathion (OP):
inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, causes brain disorders,
insomnia, anorexia, dermatitis, heart, lung, muscle, kidney, and liver
damage. Piperonyl Butoxide benzodioxole: Inhibits microsomal
enzymes, suspected of causing anorexia, carcinogenisis, coma, convulsions,
dermal irritation, kidney and liver damage, hyperexcitability, prenatal
damage, prostration, tearing, unsteadiness, vomiting and weight loss.
Specific chemicals associated with children's brain cancers
are pyrethrins and pyrethroids (which are synthetic pyrethrins,
such as permethrin, tetramethrin, allethrin, resmethrin, and
fenvalerate)
AIR
FRESHENERS:
Most air fresheners interfere with your
ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by
releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air
freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen.
Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell,
burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats,convulsions,
circulatory collapse, coma and even death. Moth-repellent cakes or
crystals, toilet disinfectants, and deodorizers are the major source of
exposure to paradichlorobenzene, which also causes cancer in
animals. Studies have consistently indicated that almost all exposure to
paradichlorobenzene comes from sources inside homes, not from industrial
emissions or hazardous-waste sites.
AMMONIA:
It is a very volatile chemical, it is very damaging to your
eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS:
may contain:
Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver
damage.
BLEACH:
It is a strong corrosive. It
will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause
pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes
which can be DEADLY.
CAR WASH AND POLISH:
Petroleum
Distillates: Associated with skin and lung cancer, irritant to skin,
eyes, nose and lungs. Entry into the lungs may cause fatal pulmonary
edema, most marked Danger, Harmful or Fatal.
CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO:
Most
formulas are designed to overpower the stain itself, they accomplish the
task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include:
Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and
nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely
irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS:
Most products
contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated -
number one cause of child poisonings, according to poison control
centers.
DRAIN CLEANER:
Most drain cleaners
contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic,
burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach.
Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages
kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin
irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.
FLEA POWDERS:
Carbaryl: Very
toxic, causes skin, respiratory and cardiovascular system damage.
Maldison or Malathion (OP) inhibits the enzyme
acetylcholinesterase, causes brain disorders, insomnia, anorexia,
dermatitis, heart, lung, muscle, kidney, and liver damage.
FRAGRANCES:
95 percent of chemicals used in
fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include
benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and other known toxics and sensitizers --
capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders
and allergic reactions. See Fragranced Products
Information Network (Betty Bridges), and
The Environmental
Health Network.
FURNITURE POLISH:
Petroleum
Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer.
Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene:
Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS:
Sodium or
calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or
respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through
the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate:
Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed
through the skin from clothes.
MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS:
Chemicals
contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns
skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death.
Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes,
nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds,
dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
OVEN CLEANER:
Sodium Hydroxide
(Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes.
Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if
swallowed.
PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS:
Most pesticides
have ingredients that affect the nervous system of insects.
Dimpylate: Better known as Diazinon, extremely toxic. Impairs the
central nervous system. Chlorinate Hydrocarbons: Suspected
carcinogen and mutantagen. Accumulates in food and in fatty tissue. Will
attack the nervous system. Organophosphates such as Chlorpyrifos:
a potent nerve poison, affects the nervous system. Synthetic Pyrethrins
and Pyrethroids, such as Permethrin: associated with children's brain
cancers. Toxic and poisonous. If you can smell it, your lungs are
absorbing it.
SOAP &
COSMETICS
Many cosmetics and soap products contain chemicals
which may be absorbed through the skin. Surprisingly high amounts of the
chemical, diethyl phthalate, were found recently in the blood of
Americans nationwide. Pthalates are suspected of disrupting normal hormone
function and causing reproductive birth defects. Sodium Lauryl
Sulphate, a suspected neurotoxin, is found in shampoo, conditioner,
soap and toothpaste.
SPRAY & WIPE SURFACE CLEANERS:
Many
surface cleaners contain the solvent 2-butoxyethanol, which may
cause respiratory tract irritation, unconsciousness, kidney and liver
damage, eye irritation, damage to blood cells, and blood in
urine.
TAR AND BUG REMOVER:
Contains XYLENE and
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS:
Hydrochloric
acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages
kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or
burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema,
vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause
chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
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