MIFFLINBURG -- Housecleaning can be dangerous to your health.
That was one of the subjects touched on by Janice Teeter, a breast cancer survivor, who recently travelled from her home in Maryland to share her personal story with 75 area residents at Mifflinburg's Nazarene Church.
"More and more people are discovering the potential hazards and dangers of traditional, commercially produced household cleaning products," she said. "I came to talk about some of the ways people can protect their family from cancer and other childhood illnesses caused in part by those household items.
"I learned about the disease the hard way," Teeter continued. "Fifteen years ago, I found out I had breast cancer. When it happened, I was bewildered. Shocked. I had always been a health nut," she said. "I had no family history of cancer. I was a non-smoker. A runner, in fact. I watched what I ate. And yet, at 40 years old, I had cancer. The first thing that went through my mind was, 'why me?'"
At the time, Teeter was working for U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland). "Because I worked for a senator I had easy access to National Institute of Health information," Teeter said. "That's when I first learned of the very strong relationship between environmental toxins and the majority of breast cancers in younger women."
Teeter discovered studies that showed people are exposed to toxic chemicals in their homes in three basic ways: ingestion, dermal absorption ("things we rub on our skin") and inhalation.
"Fifteen years ago, we didn't talk about 'green' products. We didn't consider the effects of exposure to common household chemicals, breathing in disinfectant sprays and environmental contaminants."
She's determined to tell her story to anyone who will listen, lecturing around the country.
It should also be mentioned, however, that Teeter now works for Maleluca: The Wellness Company, which manufactures environmentally safe products.
Nevertheless, without intending to be an alarmist, and armed with National Cancer Institute facts, Teeter said certain precautions should always be taken:
Read the label on cleansers; many are known to contain potential carcinogens. If a product says "caution," "warning" or "hazard," look for a less toxic alternative.
Use cleansers made from natural products or make your own with baking soda. Baking soda can be used to clean drains, toilet bowls, ovens, kitchen surfaces, bath tubs and tile surfaces.
When cleaning around the house:
Understand that certain air fresheners might interfere with your ability to smell by releasing nerve-deadening agents or coating nasal passages with an oil film, usually methoxychlor, a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener are formaldehyde, a highly toxic, known carcinogen, and phenol. When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives.
Antibacterial cleaners may contain triclosan, which is absorbed through the skin and can be tied to liver damage.
Bleach is a strong corrosive, which can irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It could cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. Never mix bleach with acid toilet bowl cleaners or ammonia. These mixtures may produce fumes which can be extremely harmful.
Carpet and upholstery shampoo formulas are designed to overpower the stain itself. This is often done by using highly toxic substances, such as perchlorethylene, a known carcinogen that damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage; and ammonium hydroxide, a corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
The first agent of chemical warfare was chlorine. WWII ended with an abundance of this cheap chemical. Chlorine is the number one cause of breast cancer and can be lethal. Scientists won't handle chlorine without protective gloves, face masks, and ventilation, yet it is in most store-brand cleaners, including dishwasher detergents. The harmful effects are intensified when the fumes are heated, as in the shower. It is in our drinking water, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, and more.
Most dishwasher detergents contain chlorine in a dry, highly concentrated form. A major cause of household poisoning is dish detergent. Dish washing liquids are labeled "harmful if swallowed." Each time you wash your dishes, some residue is left on them, which accumulates with each washing. Your food picks up part of the residue, especially if your meal is hot when you eat it.
Certain furniture polish contains petroleum distillates, which are highly flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. They contain nitrobenzene, which is easily absorbed through the skin and extremely toxic.
Some laundry detergents contain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless other chemicals. These substances can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and more. The residue left on your clothes, bed sheets, is absorbed through your skin, as is everything else you touch.
Oven cleaners are some of the most toxic products people use. They contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin. Fumes linger and affect the respiratory system. Then there is the residue that is intensified the next time you turn your oven on. Suggestion: Use sea salt and baking soda instead.
Toilet bowl cleaners usually contain hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that damages kidneys and liver; and hypochlorite bleach, a corrosive irritant that can burn eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Toilet bowl cleaners also may cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested.
According to the National Research Council, "no toxic information is available for more than 80 percent of the chemicals in everyday-use products.
"Less than 20 percent have been tested for acute effects and less than 10 percent have been tested for chronic, reproductive or mutagenic effects."
Most have not been tested for combined or accumulated effects, nor for their effects on unborn children.
That's scary.
Teeter suggests minimizing the use of harsh chemicals. Store all cleaning agents in their original containers out of the reach of children. Follow the directions on the label and use only the amount of product recommended. Read labels, follow safety precautions and contact the manufacturer if you have questions.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
