Nationwide, more than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down the drain each day. Many of these products contain toxic substances that are not processed adequately by sewage treatment plants or septic systems. Studies have shown that many cleaning products in households and offices contain more than 50 potentially harmful and possibly lethal chemicals. Careless or improper use and disposal of these products may threaten individual health or lead to accidental poisoning. Long term or cumulative environmental consequences may also occur, such as contamination of surface and ground water.
Additionally, research has shown that chemical cleaning products can present health concerns because they may contain chemicals associated with eye, skin or respiratory irritation and other health issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that poor indoor air quality, also known as Sick Building Syndrome affects between 30 and 70 million U.S. workers and approximately 37 percent of the population suffers from chemical sensitivities, skin rashes, or allergies.
According to the EPA:
- Up to 30 percent of all buildings contain indoor air contamination;
- Indoor pollution costs more than $50 billion in the U.S. alone for healthcare, absenteeism, lost production, and lost revenue;
- Allergic reactions to "sick" indoor air environments account for more than 10 million workdays missed by U.S. employees each year;
- Allergic reactions to "sick" indoor air environments keep 10,000 American children out of school each day; and
- A U.C.L.A. study indicates that "adverse health effects have been identified regarding common chemical ingredients found in 222 cleaning products."
I wonder if they have heard of ESS ;-)
Christopher Haase
ESS, Cleaning the world “One Solution at a Time”
Environmentally Sensitive Solutions, Inc.
On the web at: www.neutralsolution.com www.neuhomecare.com www.neutralcleaning.com