 |
 |
> Health Concerns
In the US, the prevalence of asthma in children is increasing. Asthma is the most common chronic disorder in childhood, affects approximately 6.8 million children under 18 years of age, and is the leading cause of absenteeism from school. With regard to adults in occupational settings, according to the California Department of Public Health (Occupational Health Branch, Work-related Asthma Prevention Program), of approximately 4000 cases of work-related asthma, there have been 72 confirmed cases associated with bleach exposure since 1993 to the present. Of the 61% of new-onset asthma cases, 54% were teachers and teachers’ aides. Since bleach is a risk factor for exacerbating asthma and causing new asthma, and asthma is the chronic disease that affects mostly children and the working class of teachers/teachers' aides, we seek to reduce the overuse and over concentration of bleach and find safer alternatives.
-- From "Protocol for Reducing the Overuse of Bleach & Introducing Alternative Products in Child Care Settings", San Francisco Asthma Task Force.
There are many chemicals in household cleaners and chemicals in these cleaning products are among the most toxic compounds found in the home, schools, and many work places. Some of the chemicals found in traditional cleaning products that you may be using include sodium hypochlorite (bleach), phosphates, phosphoric acid, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, sodium hydroxide, and xylene.
Our schools, work places and homes have been made into small chemical factories by the use of traditional cleaners and disinfectants like bleach. Everyday house cleaning products may be responsible for chest pains, eye and skin irritation, allergies, asthma, headaches, depression, fatigue, dizziness, and possibly even birth defects and cancer.
"There is a connection between exposure of domestic cleaning products and wheezing in toddlers, which is an early sign of asthma, according to new research. The study of 14,000 children up to the age of three and a half, published in the journal Thorax found that exposure to household products such as bleach, aerosols, carpet and window cleaners increased the risk of wheezing."
 Read more...
A quick overview of some concerns:
- Ingesting bleach can produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain and cause oral, esophageal and gastric burns as well as
- Studies have shown a relationship between dioxin exposure and cancer, birth defects, and developmental/reproductive disorders
- Skin or eye exposure produces local burning and irritation
- Inhaling the fumes may lead to sore throat, cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath, along with fluid in the lungs
- Production and use releases dioxin, furans and other organochlorines into the air
Quats vs. Bleach... There is a safer alternative!
| |
> Daycares
"There is a connection between exposure of domestic cleaning products and wheezing in toddlers, which is an early sign of asthma, according to new research. The study of 14,000 children up to the age of three and a half, published in the journal Thorax found that exposure to household products such as bleach, aerosols, carpet and window cleaners increased the risk of wheezing."
Read more...
|
> Quats vs. Bleach
Chlorine bleach can not only be harmful, it is also a poor cleaning agent. Surfaces must be clean or else the bleach is ineffective in killing micro-organisms. Disinfectants cleaners with quats, however, make excellent cleaners and disinfectants. Click below to learn why quats are the Number One choice in food service and medical care facilities.
Read more... |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
