Household Chemicals

The information below is derived from an article by Annie Berthold-Bond and Doug Pibel, entitled: Yes!…But How? The article appeared in the "Sustainable Living Column" in Yes! A Journal of Positive Futures; Fall 2000 edition <www.yesmagazine.org>.

In April 2000 the Physicians for Social Responsibility published a report "In Harm's Way". The report notes that of the 15,000 chemicals on the market, only 12 have been analyzed for their effect on children's brain development. The report notes how many neurotoxic and hormone-disrupting chemicals pregnant women and children can be exposed to. There is little we can do about exposure to a number of neurotoxins, as they are in the air, water, and food everywhere on Earth. Chemicals such as lead, other heavy metals, mercury, nicotine, dioxins, PCBs, pesticides, and solvents contribute to a wide range of health problems. Is it a mere coincidence that, in children, autism has increased 210% in California between 1987 and 1998? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now detected in between 6 and 17 percent of children. Learning disabilities are diagnosed in 17% of all children under age 18, and mental retardation in 1 percent of all children. Why? Is our modern society to blame?

Is there anything we as individuals can do about these vital issues? Yes! What we can do is significantly reduce our exposure levels to chemicals in our homes and workplaces by choosing safe materials--those that have been around so long and have been used by people without harm for so long that they are generally regarded as safe (GRAS). You can learn more about the approval process for GRAS materials and products from the FDA website <www.fda.gov>. Ideally, what we want to look for is products that do not cause acute (sudden-onset) health effects or create slow-acting or accumulating long-term problems. These products can truly be labeled as nontoxic. A number of safer products are available in health food stores. Using these safe commercial products with some homemade recipes solves many cleaning, maintenance, and pest problems without the use of toxic products, such as chlorine, ammonia, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including solvents, formaldehyde, pesticides, and plastics.

Pay attention to what chemicals are used in your home, yard, and workplace by reading labels. If choice is between something marked "fatal if swallowed" or a simple but effective recipe, common sense should prevail; use the GRAS rule guide.

Check all bottles of pesticides and cleaning agents in your home. Take away to the household hazardous waste center any with a warning label marked stronger than CAUTION.

You can clean everything in the house with four basic ingredients: baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, and liquid soap. Tea tree oil can be added to this arsenal, but only if you or someone else in your home is not pregnant. Vinegar acts as an antibacterial agent. Baking soda mixed with soap is a wonderful soft scrubber. Washing soda takes the place of solvents, but please do wear gloves when you use it.

Practically, using the GRAS guideline for cleaning doesn't take any more time; it's less expensive, and it works! Most people who make the switch enjoy living in a less toxic home. It improves their sleep, babies are less fussy, and children's concentration and sense of well-being are improved.

Until a precautionary principle is implemented by all of industry, and products are never put on the market until they are truly proven safe, we have no choice but to take charge of our own family's health. By choosing products on the GRAS list and implementing the principle of using least-toxic substances, all of us can live in healthier homes.

Ms. Bethold-Bond lists some of the following publications as some of her favorite resources.