EVERYDAY SOURCE OF TOXINS (Part 3)
Hidden sources of toxins you carry (and inhale) all day that may damage your health
6. Detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets
We have already listed poisonous household products as the first of the everyday toxins you may be unaware of, because they can become part of indoor pollution, the air that you breathe all day and all night. But now, we look at the toxic chemicals that come into contact with your skin.
Common ingredients making it inside these products include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), limonene (a known carcinogen), chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), and fragrances (also containing phthalates).15
Toxic substances in your detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets stay in your clothes for a very long time (thanks to phthalates, which makes fragrances that much more tenacious) and are then absorbed into the bloodstream via contact with your skin.
Drier sheets are an added problems due to releasing acrylamide and VOCs in the air, contributing to indoor pollution. This is also a concern because the same compounds are released by air fresheners.16,17
Choose unscented detergents, fabric softeners and avoid dryer sheets altogether. Better yet, use sensitive skin and skin-friendly products to reduce your exposure.
7. Air Fresheners
These are either designed to trick your brain there is no obvious smells in your home (by binding to cell receptors in the nose and brain) or to mask them. Most air fresheners on the market (even the most expensive brands!) are made up of synthetic ingredients, which turn into Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the air.18
VOCs cause indoor air pollution and are toxic to humans and animals. In addition, they contain ingredients like ‘fragrances,’ an umbrella term used for a wide range of synthetic ingredients (like phthalates) linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity.19
Install the best possible air-filtering system in your home you can afford and avoid air fresheners and (wax, soy) candles. Replace these with essential oil sprays (that you can easily and cheaply make yourself). Choose candles made with vegetable was and cardboard wicks (instead of wired wicks).
8. Perfumes (and eau de toilet, and any cosmetic products with ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance')
Trade secrets, you will never know what's inside these very expensive products. One thing for sure they carry a high VOC toxic load, as well as phthalates. The stronger the smell, the higher the concentration. They can also contain 100s of health-disrupting ingredients like benzaldehyde, camphor, ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, linalool, acetone, and methylene chloride.20
‘Natural fragrances’ are another greenwashing term used by companies to suggest that the scent is magically innocent. Unfortunately, 'natural' is not a legal term and , therefore, has no meaning. Fragrances aren’t safe. Period. They are also known as hormone-disruptors.21
9. Dry cleaning
Did you know that dry cleaning chemicals are one of the most toxic chemicals ever. They are a hazard to the aquatic environment (and yet, end up in the water system), animal and human health. Typical cleaning chemical used in dry cleaners are tetrachloroethylene or perchloroethylene (PCE, a potential carcinogen, also linked to liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage, and can aggravate pre-existing conditions.22,23
Although, PCE is likely to be banned, it remains the most commonly used cleaning agent by dry cleaners. Avoid purchasing dry-cleaning only pieces of garment, and do the laundry yourself.
References:
15 “Don’t Get Slimed: Skip the Fabric Softener.” (2021). Environmental Working Group. Avialable at: www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/dont-get-slimed-skip-fabric-softener
16 Steinemann, AC. et al. (2011). Chemical emissions from residential dryer vents during use of fragranced laundry products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. 6(1), pp. 151–156., doi:10.1007/s11869-011-0156-1
17 Source: University of Washington. (2008). Available at: https://www.washington.edu/news/2008/07/23/toxic-chemicals-found-in-common-scented-laundry-products-air-fresheners
18 EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). "Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality.” Available at: www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality.
19 Steinemann, A. (2016). Fragranced consumer products: Exposures and effects from emissions. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. 9(8), pp. 861–866., doi:10.1007/s11869-016-0442-z.
20 Women’s Voices for the Earth. (2020). “Get the Facts on Fragrance.” Available at: www.womensvoices.org/fragrance-ingredients/facts-on-fragrance/
21 Environmental Working Group. (2021). "‘Natural’ Extracts Can Trigger Allergies.” Available at: www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/natural-extracts-can-trigger-allergies
22 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2016). “Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene).” Available at: www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/tetrachloroethylene.pdf.
23 Cichocki, JA. et al. (2016). Target organ metabolism, toxicity, and mechanisms of Trichloroethylene and Perchloroethylene: Key similarities, differences, and data Gaps. The Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics. 359(1), pp. 110-123., doi:10.1124/jpet.116.232629