By
Richard Alexander
AIR FRESHENERS:
Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your
nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve-deadening
agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener:
Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol
touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in
hives. Can cause cold sweats, convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma
and even death.
AMMONIA:
It is a very volatile chemical; it is very damaging to your eyes,
respiratory tract and skin.
BLEACH:
It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and
respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if
ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes
which can be DEADLY.
CARPET
AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO:
Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they
accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some
include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and
nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely
irritable to eyes, skin and
respiratory passages.
DISHWASHER
DETERGENTS:
Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly
concentrated. # 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control
centers.
DRAIN
CLEANER:
Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane.
Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and
stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages
kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin
irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.
FURNITURE
POLISH:
Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer.
Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed
through the skin, extremely toxic.
MOLD
AND MILDEW CLEANERS:
Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or
burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or
death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes,
nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds,
dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
OVEN
CLEANER:
Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and
eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.
ANTIBACTERIAL
CLEANERS:
may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver
damage.
LAUNDRY
ROOM PRODUCTS:
Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin,
eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through
the skin. Known liver damaging agent.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes,
causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.
TOILET
BOWL CLEANERS:
Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes.
Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach:
Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with
other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
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OTHER NASTY THINGS THAT ARE AROUND YOUR HOME
PESTICIDES:
Most pesticides have ingredients that affect the nervous system of
insects. Dimpylate: Better known as Diazinon, extremely toxic.
Impairs the central nervous system. Chlorinate Hydrocarbons:
Suspected carcinogen and mutantagen. Accumulates in food and in fatty
tissue. Will attack the nervous system. Organophosphates: Toxic and
poisonous. If you can smell it, your lungs are absorbing it.
FLEA
POWDERS:
Carbaryl: Very toxic, causes skin, respiratory and cardiovascular system
damage. Chlordane: Accumulates in the food chain, may damage eyes,
lungs, liver, kidney and skin. Dichlorophene:
Skin irritation: May damage liver, kidney, spleen and central
nervous system.
LICE
SHAMPOO:
Especially vulnerable are children. Lindane: Inhalation, ingestion, or
ABSORPTION through the SKIN causes vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and
circulatory collapse. May cause liver damage, stillbirths, birth defects
and cancer.
CAR
WASH AND POLISH:
Petroleum Distillates: Associated with skin and lung cancer, irritant to
skin, eyes, nose and lungs. Entry into the lungs may cause fatal
pulmonary edema, most marked Danger, Harmful or Fatal.
TAR AND
BUG REMOVER:
Contains XYLENE and PETROLEUM DISTILLATES.
Warning terms used are significant:
DANGER
- Harmful or fatal if swallowed - A taste to a teaspoonful taken by
mouth could kill an average sized adult.
WARNING
- Harmful if
swallowed - A teaspoonful to an ounce taken by mouth could kill an
average sized adult.
CAUTION
- Harmful if
swallowed - An ounce to over a pint taken by mouth could kill an average
sized adult.
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