The Top 10 Toxic Products You Don’t Need

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Janelle Sorensen

Sunday, January 31, 2010

It's become so common in our culture to assume we need things - a lot of things.

Over-consumption is not only a strain on our bank accounts and environment, it can also be harmful to our health. Whether there's a warning label or not (usually not), many of the things we buy have associated health risks.

Here are ten toxic products, in no particular order, that you don't need. And, once you read about them, you probably won't want them either. Be aware that different homes may have different products that are more toxic than these. This is just a basic list of some of the most commonly purchased products that are almost entirely unnecessary, but pose significant risks.

1. Air fresheners: Most air fresheners mask odors with a synthetic fragrance or numb your sense of smell with chemical anesthetics. But, they do nothing to eliminate the source of the odor. Also, aerosol air fresheners spew out tiny droplets of chemicals that are easily inhaled into the lungs. Instead, ventilate well and choose natural deodorizers, such as zeolite or baking soda, which contain minerals that absorb odors. How to Freshen Indoor Air Naturally includes recipes for other homemade remedies. Plants are also helpful for purifying your indoor air.

2. Drain, oven and toilet bowl cleaners: Yes, three products instead of one, but they all fit under the category of cleaners - and these are the three nastiest. Corrosive or caustic cleaners, such as the lye and acids found in drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acid-based toilet bowl cleaners, are the most dangerous cleaning products because they burn skin, eyes and internal tissue easily.

* To clean extra-greasy ovens, mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime; and rinse surfaces well.
* Prevent clogged drains by using hair and food traps.
* To de-grease and sweeten sink and tub drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by 1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes; rinse with hot water. You might have to repeat the whole procedure more than once. This same mixture can be used prior to scrubbing your toilet bowl to deodorize and scour away grime.

3. Canned food: It's probably shocking to find a food item on a toxic product list, but it's no mistake. Food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol-A (BPA). Most experts believe this is our main source of exposure to BPA, which has been linked to hormone disruption, obesity, heart disease, and much more. Eden Foods is currently the only company with BPA-free canned foods (other than the canned tomatoes, which they haven't found an adequate substitute for given the acidity of the tomatoes). Opt for fresh, frozen, dried or jarred foods.

4. Pesticides: This is a huge category of products, but they deserve inclusion in their entirety because of how extremely toxic they are. They're made to be. That's how they kill things. But, solving your pest problem may leave you with another problem - residual poisons that linger on surfaces, contaminate air, and get tracked onto carpet from the bottom of shoes. There are so many non-toxic ways to eliminate pests and weeds - next time you need to get on the offense, check out the recommendations at Beyond Pesticides.

5. Dry-cleaning: Okay, it's a service and not a product per se, but the chemical used to do it, perchloroethylene, has been linked to cancer as well as nervous system, kidney, liver and reproductive disorders. Even bringing dry-cleaned clothes home is risky. EPA studies have found that people who reported visiting a dry-cleaning shop showed twice as much perc in their breath, on average, as other people. EPA also found that levels of perc remained elevated in a home for as long as one week after placing newly dry-cleaned clothes in a closet. A Consumers Union study found that people who wear freshly dry-cleaned clothes, like a jacket and shirt, every week over a 40-year period, could inhale enough perc "to measurably increase their risk of cancer" - by as much as 150 times what is considered "negligible risk." Try wet-cleaning, CO2 technology, or even hand-washing.

6. Bottled water: Most people buy bottled water thinking they're avoiding any contaminants that may be present in their tap water. For the most part, they're wrong. Bottled water can be just as, or even more, contaminated than tap water. In fact, some bottled water IS tap water - just packaged (in plastic that can leach chemicals into the water) and over-priced. Also, from manufacture to disposal, bottled water creates an enormous amount of pollution - making our water even less drinkable. Do yourself and the world a favor and invest in a reusable stainless steel water bottle and a water filter.

7. Rubber duckies: How does such a cute toy end up on a toxic product list? When it's made from PVC - the poison plastic. Banned in over 14 countries and the European Union, PVC, also known as vinyl, is still legally sold by U.S. retailers although it threatens environmental and consumer health at every stage of its product life cycle, according to the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ). When it's in your home, PVC can leach phthalates (linked to hormone disruption) and lead (a potent neurotoxicant) - contaminating air, dust, and eventually you. Go PVC-free by reading packages and avoiding the #3 in the chasing arrows symbol (usually found on the bottom of a product). If a plastic is not labeled, call the manufacturer. Learn more.

8. Couch cushions: No, you needn't get rid of all your cushions and consign yourself to a future of discomfort. Just avoid cushions, pillows, and anything with foam labeled as meeting California TB 117, as it is likely to contain toxic fire retardants. These chemicals migrate from the foam to dust to people. In animal research, these chemicals are associated with cancer, birth defects, thyroid disruption, reproductive and neurological disorders such as hyperactivity and mental retardation. Don't worry about increasing your fire risk, data does not show that this standard has resulted in increased fire safety. Look for foam and cushions made with polyester, down, wool, or cotton as they are unlikely to contain toxic fire retardants.

9. Perfume and cologne: Colognes and perfumes may make us more attractive. But mixed in with the colors and scents are a wide variety of unattractive chemicals. Perfumes and fragrances can consist of hundreds of chemicals. Testing of Calvin Klein's Eternity by an independent lab, commissioned by Environmental Health Network (EHN), revealed that the perfume contained over 800 compounds. Among the chemicals of concern is diethyl phthalate (DEP) that is absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in human fat tissue. Phthalates are suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors that are increasingly being linked to reproductive disorders.

It's not so simple to avoid phthalates by switching products because they are rarely listed on product ingredient labels. Phthalates are claimed as a part of trade secret formulas, and are exempt from federal labeling requirements. Find out if products you currently use contain phthalates and find safer ones on Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Searchable Product Guide website.

10. Oil-based paints and finishes: There are 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens potentially present in oil-based paint, according to a John Hopkins University study. Still interested in coating your walls and furniture with this gunk? I hope not. Look for water-based options - ideally those that are low- or no-VOC. You could also explore natural finishes like milk paint and vegetable or wax based wood finishes.

Posted by KarlB on 08/10/2011 at 08:46 AM

Thanks for the great article. I certainly agree with most of the tips, except I won’t be throwing my daughter’s rubber duckies in the trash. I’m not too worried about this and would like to see another product in the next top ten list. How about those fabric softeners? Get rid of those.
Lastly folks, my unsolicited advice is to do your best to implement the strategies and don’t stress as stress is equally bad for your health.

Posted by T - mom of 3 on 08/10/2011 at 06:36 AM

This is a very informative article. Most things have truth to them, but would be more convincing if the article was cited with references on where this info was derived from/taken from. There are other chemicals not on the list harming us that didn’t make it. If you are informing the public, inform them on all of it.

Triclosan is still better than the bacteria you may pick up from a bathroom stall. I would rather my child use the hand soap and my alcohol spray than touch the public bathroom faucet withou using soap afterward. Bacteria transmits and she sucks her thumb later. Fecal material transmitted from hand to mouth accidentally can land someone in the hospital.

Posted by Sakeenah on 08/05/2011 at 04:54 PM

it always amazes me to realize how little we know about the harms we expose ourselves to on a daily basis. Why aren’t we told about this from the mainstream education channels? How are ordinary individuals meant to know about all this? Its just really disappointing to know millions expose these toxins to themselves and their families unknowingly!
Lets spread the knowledge and give others a chance to protect their families from harm

on a side note: if you are interested in certified organic skin, cosmetics, household and nutritional products, www.iorganics.miessence.com is a great site for you to check out.

Posted by kohls printable coupons on 07/03/2011 at 10:13 AM

Can’t believe canned foods are top of the list and I’ve been eating them for years. Is there any food still safe from toxic? Organic?

Posted by Chantelle on 04/27/2011 at 09:16 AM

Watch a PSA about other toxins that you could be using every day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxi_YUwE9K0

Posted by spy on text messages on 02/21/2011 at 02:20 AM

Great stuff from you, man. Ive read your stuff before and youre just too awesome. I love what youve got here, love what youre saying and the way you say it. You make it entertaining and you still manage to keep it smart. I cant wait to read more from you. This is really a great blog.

Posted by x on 02/16/2011 at 07:37 PM

Just pointing out: PVC is NOT banned in the European Union—-I don’t know where the author of this article got their information from. While its use may (or may not, I don’t know) be restricted in certain products, it is definitely in use over there.

Posted by Love Poems on 02/09/2011 at 12:25 AM

we will be very careful about our health & routine life to save ourself from disease bcz its very harmful if we careless. author good high lights the main product which we need to use for our routine life.

Thanks
Love Poems

Posted by Trend on 01/17/2011 at 07:43 PM

I went and checked all of my kids bath toys and immediately moved some of them to the trashcan. As for my couch, it still has cushions.

Posted by Amy on 01/10/2011 at 08:15 PM

Thank you for this info. For anyone looking to reduce their toxic load via body care products, I encourage you to check out the following websites:

www.bubbleandbee.com (truly natural and almost completely organic *high quality* bath & body products)

theglamorganicgoddess.blogspot.com (good info about cancer-causing chemicals in our products, and personal reviews of natural alternative products)

I’ve also started researching all products at the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (cosmeticsdatabase.com) - an awesome resource.

Posted by Meg on 01/10/2011 at 04:45 PM

Bath products that have holes for squirting or draining water also often trap moisture causing mold to grow inside of them. Boon duckies and bath products are bpa, phthalate, and pvc-free and do not have holes that would cause mold to grow inside of them. The scrubble bath toys are 2 pieces so you can open them and dry the inside completely. Great article!

Posted by Nelson M. on 12/20/2010 at 12:54 PM

I know most people have already had this comment, but . . .not the Rubber Duckies! (or more appropriately PVC Duckies!) After reading this, I went and checked all of my kids bath toys and immediately moved some of them to the trashcan. As for my couch, it still has cushions. I did, however, get rid of a few decorative pillows we had on our couch. Thank you for always looking out for my family. Your site has been a wealth of knowledge and health for us over the years. You have my appreciation, and please, keep up the marvelous work.

Posted by Susan on 10/27/2010 at 09:48 AM

Interesting article. However, I have a concern with the link to ‘Beyond Pesticide’ website. I checked out their solution for cockroaches, and it suggested boric acid. It is a poison, isn’t it? Are there any safer non-toxic solution?

Posted by Furniture Manufacturer on 08/15/2010 at 02:27 AM

I highly recommend the book “Slow Death by Rubber Duckie” - filled with this sort of information. I’d also add antibacterial hand and dish soap if it contains “triclosan” to the list of items to remove from your homes. Triclosan is a known endocrine disruptor and the addition of this toxic chemical in household goods is completely unnecessary.

Posted by Samantha Clemans on 06/09/2010 at 12:08 PM

Thanks for this great list. As for some of the questions about Muir Glenn, I know that they are going BPA free with the NEXT tomato harvest. I take that to mean that their current cans of tomatoes may still contain BPA.

Anyone know about Trader Joe’s? I find conflicting information about whether or not their cans contain BPA. I asked and they said No, but other things I’ve read said that they still have some products with BPA… and I know that their plastic still contain BPA.

Thanks for this informational list!

Posted by Kendy on 03/11/2010 at 07:11 PM

to Katie Newell above…..I called Muir Glen about 18 months ago….and as of that time—MUIR GLEN DOES contain BPA in their canned products..

Posted by tasha on 03/08/2010 at 11:53 AM

It’s easy to find safe hand and dish soap - even better if it doesn’t contain parabens and other chemicals. We use Avalon or Aubrey hand soap and various SLS free dish soaps.

Posted by Amanda on 03/05/2010 at 03:03 PM

You’re totally right about the cleaning products!! There is no need for most of the chemical-laden (and expensive) products we buy - baking soda and vinegar will clean most things.

Posted by Heather on 02/11/2010 at 07:24 PM

Don’t forget about the toxins in our personal care products! Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetics Safety Database at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to see how toxic your products are. Thankfully, I just found out about Ava Anderson Non-Toxic (the ONLY company right now to produce skin care and cosmetics that ALL score 0!!

You can get them at www.NonToxicBelle.com

I’m using the skin care line and love it!

Posted by Ellen on 02/04/2010 at 10:43 PM

Thank you for posting this! My daughter was “injured” by an air freshener in the school—of all places! She is now very chemically sensitive and we are struggling to help her recover! Please take these recommendations seriously. I’d also like to add another BIG one—formaldehyde in furniture and cabinets—stay away!

Posted by Katie Newell on 02/03/2010 at 10:26 PM

Thank you so much for an informative post! Do you know anything about Muir Glen tomato products? I was told by Dr. Greene they are BPA free but cannot get confirmation from them.

Posted by Rachel - As Safe as Houses on 02/01/2010 at 01:11 AM

Thank you for this informative post.

I find it remarkable that we expose ourselves to so many ‘toxic products’, often unaware of their potential to affect our health. The most concerning thing for me is the affect that these ‘toxic products’ can have on children.

In 2002 Bruce Lofquist wrote an article called, “Home Hazards: Residential pesticides pose threats to children’s health” which featured in the Alternatives Journal. This article suggests that children are more susceptible to health problems that result from the use of things like pesticides, partly because when compared proportionately to adults they eat, drink and breathe more. Lofquist also mentions that many pesticides that have been evaluated for regulatory proccesses, were done so by considering their affect on adults who weigh substantially more than a young child.

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