Did you Know? (about cleaning products) In general, choose products that are less-toxic, fragrance-free, contain no dyes, preservatives, solvents, toxins, phosphates, caustics, chlorines, carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, and endocrine disruptors. Spray cleaners are not hypoallergenic by nature. Those most knowledgeable about producing hypoallergenic products avoid supplying products in spray bottles. This… read more →
EMISSIONS FROM CLEANING PRODUCTS TYPE OF PRODUCT CHEMICALS EMITTED AEROSOL PROPELLANTS: propane, nitrous oxide, methylene chloride, formaldehyde AIR FRESHENERS/ MOTHBALLS: paradichlorobenzene, fragrance chemicals DISINFECTANTS: phenol, cresol, sodium and/or potassium hydroxide (lye), ammonia, pine oil, formaldehyde, chlorine SOAPS/DETERGENTS: alcohol, formaldehyde, phenols, ethers, glycols, fragrance chemicals, benzylalcohol DESK CLEANSER: limonene, undecane, p-Cymene WINDOW CLEANERS: ammonium… read more →
Citrus and Pine Cleaners: Natural Ozone can combine with Pine and Citrus to form chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetone Influence of ozone concentration and temperature on ultra-fine particle and gaseous volatile organic compound formations generated during the ozone-initiated reactions with emitted terpenes from a car air freshener. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18336999… read more →
What About Cleaning with “That Lemony Smell”…Citrus? 2015 Some school boards and consumers choose to purchase citrus-based cleaners without being aware that these may pose health concerns. “But citrus is “natural” and “green”, isn’t it?” Some “natural” materials are indeed less toxic, however there are plenty of examples of natural… read more →
Children are some of the more vulnerable members of society. Existing standards were designed for minimum protection of adults in industry. Until recently, there has been remarkably limited knowledge in general use about children’s Environmental Health and Safety. It is wise to exceed existing indoor environment quality standards where children… read more →
School Cleaning Product Choice: Research into Options Citizens for A Safe Learning Environment (CASLE) November, 2000 Executive Summary School Product Choice: Research into Options Citizens for A Safe Learning Environment (CASLE) November, 2000 This report is based on research done for a Nova Scotia school board Product Evaluation Committee… read more →
Government protection regulations require that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) be on location for all WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) controlled products used in workplaces. This includes the cleaning and maintenance products used in schools. These sheets provide important information to protect everyone who may come in contact with… read more →
At a US National Conference on Children with Sensitivities, May 31 to June 1, 1996, Dr. Doris Rapp explained a way of identifying environmental sensitivities: The BIG FIVE. Dr. Rapp is a Pediatric Allergist specializing in Environmental Medicine. She has written several well known books and videos on children and… read more →
Researcher: New toxicant safety standards are needed to protect the young http://www.physorg.com/news151688225.html January 20th, 2009 By Susan Lang (PhysOrg.com) — In an invited, peer-reviewed journal article on how prenatal exposure to toxic substances are linked to a host of diseases in later life — from atherosclerosis to cancer — a… read more →
Children are especially susceptible to air pollution. “The health risk from air pollution is as much as six times greater for children than for adults.” Medical Researchers at the University of California at Irvine “Exposures to building products, furnishings and materials that have toxic potential, as well as poor ventilation in schools,… read more →