There are many chemical products within our homes and storage areas that can do us harm.  Even if a product has a descriptive warning label, the potential for accidents is high.  Chemical burns can occur from misuse of personal products or cleaners, causing damage to the skin, eyes, or other areas within reach of the chemicals. Chemicals near the eyes have potential for permanent damage and 15-20% of all burns involve one or both of the eyes.  A key to safety is to avoid prolonged exposure to any chemical.

Carcinogens are potential cancer-causing chemicals.  Silica is a known carcinogenic found in “some abrasive cleaners”.24 Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA) is found in many laundry detergents.25 These are just a few examples. Gradually, more institutions are converting to non-chemically based cleaning products.  New York state has required schools to obtain cleaning products without carcinogens or “reproductive toxins or scents that could aggravate asthma”.26 Massachusetts has begun to follow New York in examining the methods used to clean its institutions. Investigational research is being performed by companies on the effects of chemicals, but it takes years of testing to prove their arguments.

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