Household Dust Contains a Cocktail of Toxic Chemicals

Our homes are supposed to be our safe havens but scientists have found just the opposite.

Researchers analyzed 26 peer-reviewed papers, as well as one unpublished dataset, from 1999 onwards to examine the chemical make-up of indoor dust. The studies covered a wide range of indoor environments, from homes to schools and gymnasiums across 14 states.

They published their findings in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal and their results were pretty shocking. The researchers highlighted 45 toxic chemicals in indoor dust, 10 of which were present in 90% or more of the dust samples – these included flame retardants, fragrances and phenols.

Household dust that contain toxic chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of health problems, from cancer to infertility. Interestingly, researchers found that although very clean homes can cause allergies/asthma in children due to lack of exposure to microbes, there is an undeniable link between household dust and allergies/asthma.

A few days ago, I came across this news headline - “Secondary Alkane Sulfonate Market to Discern Steadfast Expansion During 2017-2025." Secondary alkane sulfonate (SAS) is widely used in household cleaning solutions, especially in dishwashing liquids and laundry detergents.

It is also used in cosmetics such as hair and body care products and industrial cleaners. The rising global demand for SAS is due to emerging economies however, it is important to know that SAS poses known/unknown concerns for our health and environment. The rise in usage of SAS may lead to more illness and disability related to exposures.

Recently, a paper was published in Environmental Health 2017 which summarized the global health costs associated with exposure to chemical substances in our everyday environment and suggests that "preventable environmental chemical exposures contribute to health costs that may exceed 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP)"!! Read More HERE

SERIOUSLY? We have to do better.

The products we use to clean our homes, as well as flooring, electrical goods, and beauty products are making our homes toxic. Toxic household dust is particularly concerning for homes with small children (and pets) who crawl on the ground and then put their hands in their mouths.

All this shows just how critical it is for MORE regulation of the chemical industry and MORE consumer advocacy around eliminating toxic chemicals from household products. Consumers need to buy natural home cleaning products as much as possible and share them with their friends and loved ones.

We only suggest the best non-toxic cleaning products. These natural home cleaning products are safe to use and work great whether it be cleaning your kitchen, bathroom or clothes. Check out some of our favorite natural home care products and our DIY Cleaning Solutions.