Fast Facts on Household Cleaners
- The average household typically uses and stores more
than 60 hazardous products, including household cleaners, automotive
products, paints, solvents and pesticides.
(Source: Seattle
Daily Journal of Commerce)
- In 1993, 1.8 million human poisonings were reported
to the poison control centers in the U.S. Ninety-two percent of the
incidents took place in the home and 60 percent of the cases involved
children under the age of five.
(Source: Children's
Health Environmental Coalition)
- A study by the New York Poison Control Center found
that 85 percent of product warning labels they studied were inadequate.
Some labels list incorrect first-aid information, and others warn against
dangers that don't exist.
(Source: Seattle
Daily Journal of Commerce)
- EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants
indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and
occasionally, more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Cleaning products and other
household products are among the many culprits.
(Source: EPA)
- Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have
been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological
abnormalities.
(Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission, via www.earthwellness.com)
- "Remember: the signal words [e.g.
"Danger," "Caution," etc.] pertain only to acute or
immediate hazards. The labels do NOT indicate the effect chemicals will
have on chronic or long-term health. Thus, degenerative diseases or those
with a long latency period are not addressed by key words. Product labels
are not required to inform consumers of the type of hazard associated with
the product." (Source: Yamhil County Solid Waste Division
(Oregon) )
- The Federal
Hazardous Substances Labeling Act (FHSLA) defines
"hazardous substance" as "any substance or mixture of
substances which (i) is toxic, (ii) is corrosive, (iii) is an irritant,
(iv) is a strong sensitizer, (v) is flammable or combustible, or (vi)
generates pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means, if such
substances or mixture of substances may cause substantial personal injury
or substantial illness during or as a proximate result of any customary or
reasonably foreseeable handling or use, including reasonably foreseeable
ingestion by children."
(Source: www4.law.cornell.edu)