| A modern home is likely to retain a range of highly | | | | to p-dichlorobenzene in mothballs, one person with |
| toxic chemicals for cleaning. They often come with | | | | only moderate exposure complained of severe |
| tantalising labels that offer protection from infections | | | | headache, swelling of tissues around the eyes and |
| and illness. In addition there are often toxic air | | | | profuse rhinitis. These symptoms subsided 24 hours |
| fresheners, room deodorisers and toilet sanitisers, all | | | | after cessation of exposure. However, the other |
| of which claim to remove noxious smells and | | | | four persons who had more prolonged exposure |
| contaminants from the indoor environment. In reality | | | | developed anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, |
| these sophisticated cleaning agents are usually far | | | | and liver involvement with jaundice. Two of these |
| more dangerous to health than the infectious agents | | | | people died. A third developed cirrhosis of the liver. |
| they purport to remove. They frequently contain | | | | From a reproductive perspective, the most |
| several toxic chemicals Many affect reproduction as | | | | dangerous chemicals found in cleaning agents are |
| well as seriously compromising general health. | | | | formaldehyde, toluene and ethylene glycol butyl |
| I was alerted to the dangers of bathroom cleaners | | | | ether. Formaldehyde is commonly used to suppress |
| to reproduction after giving talks about my research | | | | the central nervous system smell receptors so that |
| results on lifestyle and reproduction. One woman told | | | | we cannot smell bad smells. It is used in most air |
| me that every time she cleaned her shower she | | | | fresheners. As well as causing cancer, it disrupts the |
| would become dizzy and nauseous. Apparently her | | | | menstrual cycle hence causing infertility, miscarriage |
| technique was to get into the shower, spray her | | | | and birth defects. Toluene is a solvent used in many |
| cleaner on the tiles and then wash it off with very | | | | different types of cleaning agents. It is also a |
| hot water. The heat plus the fumes were a | | | | reproductive toxin. Ethylene glycol butyl ether |
| dangerous combination. She was not alone. I soon | | | | (2-butoxyethanol) is a solvent in carpet and specialist |
| discovered that many women regularly had reactions | | | | cleaners. It causes reproductive problems as well as |
| to their zealous cleaning. Many of these women had | | | | blood disorders, liver and kidney problems. Ammonia |
| been told they had unexplained infertility. Others, who | | | | may also cause problems. It is a natural fertility |
| worked as cleaners, spoke about the disturbances in | | | | inhibitor and is also a respiratory irritant. |
| their menstrual cycles that occurred soon after taking | | | | Books on safe cleaning methods advocate using |
| up cleaning work. | | | | bicarbonate of soda on a cloth for lightly soiled |
| The medical literature has many studies on the health | | | | surfaces and bicarbonate and a brush for more |
| risks of working with cleaning agents. These risks | | | | difficult stains. Vinegar or lemon juice or vinegar with |
| commonly include high rates of asthma and general | | | | bicarbonate will remove most stains including baked |
| high disability rates. Studies from Mexican American | | | | on grease. In my experience you can really achieve a |
| and Dutch women show increased rates of neural | | | | great deal with any one of these alone or with |
| tube defects (spina bifida and anencephaly) in the | | | | mixtures of them. Lemon juice is particularly good in |
| children of female cleaners. Even fathers who are | | | | shower recesses. Vinegar and bicarbonate will have |
| exposed to moderate to high levels of cleaning | | | | your toilet shining. Eucalyptus Oil or Vanilla will give it a |
| agents have increased numbers of children with | | | | pleasant smell. These natural products are safe, |
| neural tube defects. | | | | effective and cheap and won't compromise fertility. |
| The chemical p-dichlorobenzene is an example of a | | | | It amazes me that clever marketing convinces us to |
| chemical frequently found in sanitisers, especially toilet | | | | fill our homes with toxic chemicals when simple, |
| bowl deodorisers and mothballs. This is an extremely | | | | old-fashioned techniques are as, if not more |
| dangerous chemical. A group of animals repeatedly | | | | effective. Many women needlessly suffer |
| exposed to 798 ppm of p-dichlorobenzene developed | | | | reproductive problems all in the mistaken belief that |
| eye irritation, marked tremors, weakness, and loss of | | | | they are improving their own and their family's health. |
| weight. Some died. In five cases of human exposure | | | | |