| In my younger (much younger) days, I dabbled in the | | | | autism, allergies, asthma, central nervous system |
| world of beauty pageants. I did not, however, (much | | | | damage and interference, muscle spasms, damage to |
| to the chagrin of my husband) win the coveted "Miss | | | | blood tissue, and reproductive disorders. A well |
| Queen of Clean" title. I have two small children, run | | | | known brand of baby shampoo actually contains |
| my own business from home, and do my best to | | | | formaldehyde. This was a huge shocker for me! (By |
| regularly attend the shoe sales at the mall. Keeping a | | | | the way many harmful chemicals like formaldehyde |
| tidy house is just not a huge priority right now. I do | | | | and dioxin or Agent Orange are protected by trade |
| however keep a hygienic house. (Well, I wouldn't | | | | secret names. For example, formaldehyde is called |
| advise eating off my kitchen floor - but it's not | | | | Quaternium 15). |
| unsanitary.) | | | | Thirty years ago the major childhood illnesses were |
| When I was pregnant with my second baby, my | | | | chickenpox, measles and mumps. Now they are |
| Doctor advised me not to clean house using common | | | | asthma, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum, and Cancer - |
| household cleaners, as inhalation of the cleaning | | | | most of which have been linked to chemicals in the |
| products could harm my unborn baby. Needless to | | | | home. |
| say, I took his advice extremely seriously. I did not | | | | Each year over 1 million children in the US are |
| clean house. My husband, Mr. Neat Nick, did. This | | | | accidentally poisoned in their homes. More than |
| perturbed me. (Not my husband cleaning house - the | | | | 250,000 of these victims are hospitalized. 3000 |
| "not inhaling fumes from cleaning products" bit.) So | | | | children will end up in intensive care. Dozens more will |
| began my mission! I spent hours on the internet and | | | | die. Thousands of children and adults are permanently |
| in the library. More hours on the telephone with | | | | disfigured or injured through contact with chemicals in |
| poison control centers and cancer organizations. What | | | | the home each year. The most common substance |
| I discovered shocked me. | | | | that poisons children in the US today is a well know |
| The chemicals and toxins found in common household | | | | brand of liquid dishwashing detergent. So what do we |
| cleaners have caused the air inside our homes to | | | | wash our "sippy cups" in? |
| become five times more contaminated than the air | | | | I had discovered enough! I was on a mission to find a |
| outside, and fifty percent of all illnesses are caused | | | | company that sold safe cleaning products. My |
| by or aggravated by polluted indoor air. OK, so I can | | | | Husband was delighted. Poor fellow thought I would |
| open my doors and windows everyday right? Well | | | | take over the cleaning again. I found companies and |
| maybe not if I am allergic to every tree and grass in | | | | stores that sold non-toxic cleaning products - all at a |
| Texas - and I hate bugs. | | | | price. My search continued until I came across a |
| Pound for pound of body weight, children drink more | | | | company that sells better, safer products at dollar |
| water, eat more food, and breathe more air than do | | | | store prices! I was thrilled, and went to the mall to |
| adults. For example, children ages one through five | | | | celebrate! I order once a month, and this company |
| years eat three to four times more food per pound | | | | delivers the products right to my door - and, even |
| than the average adult American. The air intake of a | | | | better - I don't have to order through a pushy rep - |
| resting infant is twice that of an adult per pound of | | | | I can call the company direct or order online! |
| body weight. These patterns of increased | | | | These products work (no elbow grease involved), |
| consumption reflect the rapid metabolism of children. | | | | smell great, and I don't have to phone poison control |
| The implication for environmental health is that | | | | if my child drinks the shower cleaner. Another plus is |
| children will have substantially heavier exposures | | | | that my allergies have improved! They make a |
| pound for pound than adults to any toxins that are | | | | non-toxic product that kills dust mites, so now before |
| present in water, food, or air. As a consequence of | | | | I vacuum (around the Polly Pocket accessories and |
| this biological immaturity, they are less able than | | | | crayons), I spray my carpets with this product. It kills |
| adults to deal with toxic chemicals and thus they are | | | | the mites, deodorizes, lifts the dirt and disinfects - all |
| more vulnerable to them. | | | | in one fell swoop! (I also spray this product on my |
| The labels on cleaning products only have to warn of | | | | pillows and mattresses). |
| the acute (immediate) harms from ingesting a | | | | Oh, and by the way, I have taken over the cleaning |
| product, breathing the fumes, or contact with the | | | | again. You still should probably not eat breakfast off |
| eyes and skin. They don't reveal the harms | | | | my kitchen floor, BUT I am confident, that as a |
| presented by chronic (long term) exposure to the | | | | responsible parent, I am doing my part to protect |
| chemicals in these products. Many common household | | | | my children from household toxics. |
| cleaners contain chemicals known to contain | | | | Debi will be happy to pass on the information on |
| carcinogens (cancer causing agents), neurotoxins, and | | | | where to buy safer, non-toxic cleaning products. |
| corrosives and/or have been linked to ADD/ADHD | | | | |