Clean Air Households Product Guide
Many cleaning products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major component in the formation of ozone or smog. In fact, cleaning products contribute about eight percent of nonvehicular VOC emissions. Other products, even if they do not necessarily contain ozone-causing chemicals, still can be “toxic” or harmful to people and the environment. Read on to find out how to choose cleaning products that improve air quality and protect your family’s health. A list of safer cleaners, generally available cleaners, and make-it-yourself cleaners follows.
Read the Label. Generally look for products labeled
as both “nontoxic” and “biodegradable.” That means the product meets federal
guidelines of being less harmful to people (or animals) and breaking down
quickly to minimize harm to the environment, respectively. Nontoxic products
also tend to have fewer or no chemicals that produce VOCs. Unfortunately, the
Federal Substances Labeling Act does not require regulated household products
to reveal their ingredients on the label. That means that products can claim to
be “all-natural” or “green,” but still may contain harmful chemicals. However,
you can learn to identify traditional cleaning products that typically contain
toxic ingredients.
What to Look for in a
SAFER Cleaner
ü
Nontoxic
ü
Biodegradable
ü
Sodium
Citrate, Bicarbonate, Carbonate, or Silicate
ü Vegetable-Based Surfactants & Solvents
Pine Oil & D-Limonene (citrus oil) contain VOCs, but in lesser amounts than many products
What to AVOID in a Cleaner
L VOC-Based Solvents—No
More than 10%
Benzene, Toluene, Xylene,
Trichloroethane
L Petroleum-Based Solvents
Petroleum Distillates
& Surfactants, such as Nonylphenol Ethoxylate, Phenolic Compounds, Glycol
Ethers (Ethylene Glycol & Butoxy Ehtanol), and Isopropyl Alcohol, though
not as toxic.
L
Chlorine
Bleach or Sodium Hypochlorite
Preferable Substitute: Sodium Percarbonate
L Phosphates—No More than 0.5%
L
EDTA & NTA
Acids used to soften water &
Increase cleaning power
L “Danger” or “Poison” = Highly Toxic
L “Warning” = Moderately Toxic
L
“Caution” =
Less Toxic
A product labeled with
“Caution” may be the least offensive product available for the job. Even some “natural” products may contain
some caustic ingredients, such as pine oil, and so are labeled with “Caution.”
Avoid Petroleum-Based Ingredients. Petroleum-based chemicals or petrochemicals
are a key source of VOC emissions and, therefore, ozone. They do not break down
easily, remaining toxic in the environment for a long time. The average
household uses products containing about 10 gallons of hazardous petrochemicals
per year. Before petrochemicals were widely available, people used natural
ingredients like vegetable oils and minerals to make soaps and cleaning
solutions.
Petroleum distillates, chemicals refined from crude oil, include gasoline, naphtha, mineral spirits, kerosene, paraffin wax, and tar. Look for these ingredients on your product labels. They are a primary ingredient in many consumer products, including furniture polishes.
Avoid Toxic Chemicals. Other products may contain benzene, toluene, and xylene, all of which have toxic effects on people, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Toxic effects are those that are acute or immediate, often from exposure to large amounts of the product. For example, many chemical drain cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners contain strong acids that can burn skin and eyes. The “Danger,” “Poison,” “Warning,” and “Caution” signs that sometimes appear on labels indicate the immediate toxicity of the product. Most products bear no indication of their chronic effects from more limited exposures over a long period of time. However, in household use, people are typically more at risk from these unidentified chronic effects.
Learn More About Toxic Effects. Many chemicals have long-term effects on the human or animal immune, reproductive, neurological, and endocrine systems, in addition the ecosystem. For more information, see the Agency of Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles) and Environmental Defense’s Scorecard (www.scorecard.org). For additional information about toxic substances found in the home and what may make them harmful, visit http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/mainmenu.htm. For more information on ozone, see Clean Air Household’s fact sheet on Ozone & Your Health. (www.cleanaircounts.org/factsheets/FS PDF/Ozone Health.pdf). For more information on cleaning products, see Clean Air Household’s fact sheet on Cleaner Cleaning Products. (www.cleanaircounts.org/factsheets/FS PDF/Cleaner Cleaning Products.pdf).
Which Traditional Cleaners Should I
Avoid?
Toilet, Oven, & Furniture. Avoid traditional toilet bowl cleaner, oven
cleaner, and furniture polish. They
contain the highest amounts of toxic chemicals, including petroleum
distillates, when in liquid form. These contribute to ozone and are flammable.
Bathroom. You don’t need a special
cleaner for the bathroom. An all-purpose cleaner and scouring powder, like Bon
Ami, should be adequate. Germ-killing disinfectants contain volatile chemicals.
Avoid long-term use of disinfectants by resolving moisture problems that cause
chronic mildew.
Dishwasher. Automatic dishwashing detergent is more hazardous than soap used
to wash dishes by hand because it usually contain phosphates and chlorine
bleach. Phosphates can pollute lakes and rivers and, eventually, kill fish.
Chlorine bleach, while safe in small, dilute amounts, can release dioxin, which
is linked to cancer and reproductive problems, among others.
Laundry. Laundry detergents are made from petroleum chemicals that
contribute to ozone. They are said to cause more poisonings than any other
household product. Many stain and spot removers contain perchloroethylene, the
same solvent used in dry cleaning, known to cause cancer. However, this
chemical does not contribute to ozone formation.
Sources
include King County (WA) Hazardous Waste Management Program (www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house),
Green Seal’s Choose Green Report, Seventh Generation (www.seventhgen.com), Center for
Neighborhood Technology’s Airhead (www.airhead.org),
Ask Dr. Wolff (www.askdrwolff.com),
and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
www.thebetterhealthstore.com
(See Household & Pets)
877/876-8247
Biocontrol
Network
800/441-2847
The Caldrea Co.
877-576-8808
Earth Friendly Products
800/335-3267
Local:
Dominick’s, Whole Foods, Treasure Island
800/449-4925
Local: Dominick’s, Whole Foods, Hyde Park Coop
Envirosmart Products
Local: Treasure Island, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods
Green Home
The Green Marketplace
MSA Environmental Home-line
315/672-3005
888/638-3552
OrangeGlo Intl.— Oxi-Clean laundry detergent
http://greatcleaners.protocolusa.com/orangeglo
800-781-7529
Real Goods
800/762-7325
888/607-9902
Seventh Generation
888-593-2784
Store Locator: www.seventhgen.com
Local: Dominick’s,
Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s
Simple Green
800-228-0709
Local: Dominick’s, Home Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond
Soapworks
800/4-MY-NOSE
Local: Trader Joe’s
800/298-7861
These products tend to be lower in (or free from) toxicity and
available at your local grocer or hardware store.
Bon Ami
20 Mule Team Borax
Dr. Bonner Castile Soap
Ajax Lemon Fresh Liquid
Mr. Clean
Spic & Span
Spic & Span Spray Bath Cleaner
Murphy’s Oil Soap
Bathroom Duck
Comet Liquid Bathroom Cleaner
Orange or
Lemon Oil
Lemon Pledge Trigger Spray
Plunger or Drain Snake; see www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house/drains.html
Biocontrol
Network
www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house
Lake Michigan Federation
www.lakemichigan.org/elimination/kitchfeature.asp
Basic Recipes for Green Cleaning
www.greenpeace.org > toxics > Green Living
For more information, including on gas-can trade-ins,
see Clean Air Households fact sheet on Gas Can Replacement. (www.cleanaircounts.org/factsheets/FS
PDF/Gas Can Replacement.pdf)
Blitz
USA
"Spill
Proof" and "Sure-Pour" brands
800-331-3795
"Smartfill"
and "Spill Proof Spout" brands
800-236-2426
888-499-3326
Purchasing a low-emission vehicle can significantly reduce
your contribution to ozone. LEVs are not difficult to find, in fact 24 of the
largest automobile manufacturers make LEVs. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Green Vehicle Guide provides the LEV classification for all cars
from model year 2000 to 2002 at www.epa.gov/autoemissions/download.htm. You also can contact your local dealer to
find what is available in your area.
Making
informed choices in the garden can reduce the use of harsh chemicals, namely
pesticides, and the release of VOCs, not to mention the amount of time, effort,
and money you put into to keeping that lawn or garden beautiful.
How Can I Reduce My VOCs in the Lawn & Garden?
Native
Plant Landscaping. Because
native plants are just that, native to the area in which they grow, they are
suited to the natural conditions. As a result, native plants are hardier
gardens incorporating them require little to no mowing, much less water, and no
fertilizers. In fact, for every 1000 acres of land converted to native
landscaping, 50 tons of ozone-forming pollution would be eliminated annually.
Native plants rarely need pesticides because they are typically resistant to
local pests. Moreover, many native plants are perennials, meaning they come
back year after year, or, if annual, they reseed easily in regional conditions.
That means you don’t have to purchase new plants every year. Overall, the
reduced upkeep of native plant gardening saves you money, especially on your
water bill. For local support on native plants and landscaping, contact
•
Wild Ones at www.for-wild.org, 877/394-9453. Check out
their Wild Ones Handbook or consult the local chapter.
•
McHenry County Defenders at www.mcdef.org or 815/338-0393 in Woodstock,
IL.
•
National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat.
Avoid
Pesticides—Compost & Use Organic Products. Most pesticides, which by their very nature
contain poisons, tend to be toxic at some level, especially to children and
animals that play in the yard. If you have a pest problem in your yard, try one
of the many organic products or natural alternatives to pesticides. Composting
in your yard will provide a natural fertilizer for your plants. Well-fertilized plants are more resistant to
pests and require fewer or no pesticides.
•
For guidance on pesticide-free gardening, visit
Chicago’s Safer Pest Control Project at www.spcpweb.org/yards___gardens.html
or Lake Michigan Federation at www.lakemichigan.org/elimination/lawnfeature.asp.
•
For more information on specific pesticides and the
health effects of pesticides generally, visit Citizens for a Better
Environment at www.wsn.org/pesticides/health.shtml.
Use
Slow-Growing Grass. If you use
turf grass or seed mixtures that grow slowly, you will mow less often. Ask your
local garden and landscape store for suggestions.
Use People- or Electric-Powered
Equipment. Non-gas
powered equipment does not release VOCs. It is especially key to use
people-powered or electric-powered tools during the ozone season of April to
October. A gas-powered leaf blower emits as much tailpipe pollution in one hour
as a car does over 350 miles. Try a rake or hand clippers for a change
and especially for smaller jobs. Many manufacturers now make electric versions
of their products. If you must use gas-powered equipment, use and refuel it
after 6 p.m. to help reduce ozone-forming fumes.
Trade-In Your Old Lawnmower. For every 1000 old lawnmowers
replaced by new electric mowers this season, 25 tons of pollution will be
avoided next season.
For more information on how to trade-in your mower, see
Clean Air Communities fact sheet on the Lawnmower Buy-Back Program. (www.cleanaircounts.org/default.cfm?page=strategies&strategy=lawnmower_b)
Black & Decker
Clean Air Gardening
888/439-9101
ENERGY Guide
800/772-4725
410/692-6300
Ryobi
Biocontrol
Network
800/441-2847
Bioganic Safety Brands
(fax orders only via www.earthlogix.com)
877/723-3545
Blazing Star Nursery
815/338-4716
Local: Woodstock
847/256-0561
Local: Wilmette, IL
Earthskin Nursery
217/482-3534
812/537-5108
800/424-7990
Prairie Moon Nursery
507/452-1362
Real Goods
800/762-7325
888/607-9902
Summit Chemical Co. Mosquito Bits
800/227-8664
800/837-7644
800/800-1819
Local: Menard’s,
Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, True Value etc. (See store
locator.)
Using energy efficient appliances and electronics can save you about
$400 per year on your electric bill and reduce ozone. While replacing a
refrigerator with an energy-efficient one will probably have a bigger impact on
your energy use than any other single appliance purchase, many other clean air
appliances and electronics now are available. For example, you can purchase
energy-efficient stereos, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, and computers, which reduce
energy use while turned off or in stand-by mode. In addition, you can easily
equip your home office with energy-saving computers, printers, scanners, fax
machines.
When purchasing these products, look for the Energy Star label to indicate compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency energy efficiency guidelines; the website is listed below. Many appliances also bear a yellow Energy Guide sticker that describes how much energy and money they can save compared to similar products. If you are planning to make a purchase or simply want to see how much air pollution your existing appliances and electronics produce visit
• www.airhead.org and click on Product Search.
•
www.aceee.org/consumerguide/mostenef.htm,
where the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranks the
most energy-efficient appliances of 2001.
ENERGY Guide
800/772-4725
Local: www.energystar.gov/stores/storelocator
Home Depot
Sears
An average household spends 5 to 10 percent of its energy
budget on lighting, according to the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Network.
Yet, 50 percent or more of that energy is wasted. Saving lighting energy in the
home will improve lighting quality and air quality within and around your
home. If 5,000 households each replaced
five burned out incandescent light bulbs with five compact fluorescent light
bulbs, the Chicago region’s NOx emissions would drop 4 tons
every year.
Energy-efficient lighting reduces energy use either by
decreasing the electricity consumed by the light source or by reducing the time
the light is on. Several options for reducing energy include using a lower
wattage bulb, using lighting controls to reduce the time the light is on, and
making greater use of natural light.
Incandescent bulbs, the traditional lighting choice, may be
less expensive up front, but they have the shortest lives and produce the most
pollution. One of the best energy-efficient lighting options is a compact
fluorescent lamp (CFL), which lasts 10 to 15 times longer than an
incandescent bulb and uses one-fourth the wattage of comparable incandescent
bulbs. CFLs emit high quality and “warm
inviting light without the flickering and humming of older fluorescent bulbs,”
according to the U.S. Environmentally Protection Agency Energy Star Program.
When shopping for CFLs use the following table to determine the wattage you
need.
CFL (Watts) Incandescent (Watts)
|
14 |
40 |
|
20 |
60 |
|
25 |
75 |
|
32 |
100 |
|
50 |
150 |
CFLs, which screw right into the light socket for an
incandescent bulb, are most effective in areas lit for several hours at a time.
Another way to reduce the amount of energy consumed by lighting is by using dimmer switches. Timers are useful especially outside and in common areas. Of course, it is always best to use natural light by opening curtains or blinds; when possible, read by a window instead of a lamp.
www.thebetterhealthstore.com
(See Household & Pets)
877/876-8247
888/455-2800
ENERGY Guide
Local: www.energystar.gov/stores/storelocator
Real Goods
800/762-7325