The Deadly Clean-Up: Household Cleaners That Can Kill You

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL PRODUCTS AND THEIR HEALTH RISK

Household Cleaners That Can Kill You

INTRODUCTION

Everyonedreamsofabeautifulandcleanhome.Tomakeour place our dream home, most of us resort to some household chemical products. These household products are filled with chemicalsthatarethreateningtoourhealth.Let’sshedsome lightonthoseproducts.

1. Floor cleaners

No matter which branded, local, or herbal products you are using, they hide some of the most toxic ingredients that can cause severe ailments.

• Sodium hypochlorite

• Chloroxylenol

• Benzalkonium chloride

• MEA, DEA, TEA

Sodium hypochlorite

MEA, DEA, TEA

It is an aqua-toxic that causes hazardous effects on aquatic life and human health through aquatic pressure. The high concentration of this chemical can cause pulmonaryedema.

Itisahazardouschemical that severely impacts our centralnervoussystem.

Benzalkonium chloride

Chloroxylenol

It is an aqua-toxic that causes hazardous effects on aquatic life and human health through aquatic pressure. The high concentration of this chemical can cause pulmonaryedema.

These chemicals contain nitrates that are potentially carcinogenic in nature.

Most people clean their floors with these cleaners on aregularbasis.Imagine if a kid is playing on the floor and often puts their handsintheirmouths—how hazardous that could be forthosekids!

2. Mosquito Repellent

Thisisalsooneofthemostcommonlyused household products. However, instead of repelling mosquitoes, it attracts various ailments in our house. Generally, these repellents are labelled as not safe to inhale. Some common toxic ingredients are:

• Permethrin

• DEET(N,Ndiethyl-meta-toluamide)

• Pyrethroid

Permethrin

It is a water pollutant that causes a skin disease named scabies when it comes into contact. On inhalation, itcancauseasthma.

DEET (N,N diethylmeta-toluamide)

Pyrethroid

Exposure to this chemical can cause severe itching, allergies, and redness. The prolonged and higher exposure to this chemical can impair our brain andnerves.

This chemical is ubiquitous in various mosquito repellents.

Exposure to this chemical leads to exhaustion and a low mood. Prolonged exposure to this chemical can cause seizures, movement, and some harmful effects on the cardiac andskeletalmuscles.

3. Room Freshener

Itisafavouriteproductineveryhousehold because everyone loves a pleasantly smellinghome.Haveyouevernoticedthe ingredient present in that room freshener?

Let’sunveilthemforyou.

• Pthalates

• Ethoxylatedingredients

• Toluene

Pthalates

Itisacommoningredientin room fresheners due to its synthetic fragrance. It impairsthe functionofthe endocrine system and other processes related to it. It causes various urological, genital, and cardiovascular ailments. They are potentially neurotoxinsthatcancause cancer, asthma, kidney, andlivertoxicity.

Ethoxylated ingredients

It is prepared by mixing two toxins, ethylene dioxide and 1,4dioxane. These chemicals act as hormone disruptersandlead toseveralailments.

Toluene

It is a reproductive toxin that affects reproduction and often causes damage to the foetus and chromosomes.

4. Dishwashing Detergents

It is a necessity in every household. However, it invitesvarious diseases instead ofcleaninggerms.

Triclosan

It is one of the most common ingredients present in dishwashing detergents and cosmetics. It is an aggressive chemical that canimpairfoetalgrowth.Itiscarcinogenicin nature and also acts as an endocrine disruptor.

Covid and our obsession with cleanliness

After the pandemic, people became obsessed with cleaning, which eventually led to the risk of various ailments. We are not saying that people should live in dirt, but one should limit their usage of these products. We must check the ingredient list before buying them.

CONCLUSION

Not all glitter is gold, and these household chemicals prove this. A clean house is a necessity, but a healthy household is much more beautiful.