SCIENTISTS FIND PROOF OF WHAT WE’VE SUSPECTED...
In 2008 Scientist reported on the toxic chemicals in household cleaning products, laundry detergents & laundry softeners.
You shouldn’t have to suffer asthma, sinus problems, eczema or dermatitis just to have a clean house or clean clothes.
Let’s look at the study. Researchers from the University of Washington studied top-selling laundry, household cleaning products and air freshening products and found that they emitted dozens of different chemicals. All of them had at least one chemical identified as a toxic or hazardous under federal law.
Among the products tested were a household cleaning product, a fabric softener and a laundry detergent, as well as a spray and plug-in air fresheners.
Results showed nearly 100 volatile inorganic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the six products. Five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level, said author Anne Steinemann.
That’s not all. A later 2011 study found that air vented from machines using top-selling scented liquid laundry detergent contained hazardous chemicals, including two classified as carcinogens.
For the study, researchers ran a load of laundry once with no products and once with a leading brand of scented liquid laundry detergent. They captured the exhaust from the dryer vent with a canister.
An analysis of the captured air showed more than 25 VCOs, including seven hazardous air pollutants. The two carcinogens were acetaldehyde and benzene. “These products can affect not only personal health” said Steinemann “but also public an environmental health. The chemicals can go in to the air, down the drain and into water bodies.