Comments on: Household Cleaners and Health Risks

By: Sasquatch

Sasquatch — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:08:38 +0000

I agree that those chemicals are frightening. I don’t think they’re the elephant in the room that’s causing asthma though. Asthma has been increasing on the same timescale as obesity and diabetes in the US, and they’re probably caused by the same thing. I think it’s probably the crap food we eat and the lack of vitamin D that are the main culprits. But once you’re sensitized, chemicals can definitely exacerbate it.

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:44:23 +0000

Wonder how those “steam cleaner” appliances work (as-seen-on-TV)? Are they as effective as chemicals if one is looking to kill pathogenic bacteria? I haven’t seen any ads for them lately.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:36:35 +0000

I can relate Sonagi. I did Custodial work at school districts for over 10 years. And I hated some of the chemicals we were forced to use. Most districts don’t seem to care though, they want products that are most cost effective and that will still get the job done, the health of custodians and the students & teachers that are exposed to these chemicals doesn’t seem to take top priority.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:26:24 +0000

A wide variety of endocrine problems are certainly an epidemic these days. Removing anything that could cause problems, including phthalates, is simply a good idea.

By: Sonagi

Sonagi — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:34:27 +0000

I’d like to forward this to the adminstrative office of the district where I teach. Every afternoon right after school, our custodian comes in and whatever he sprays on the tables creates very strong chemical fumes. He breathes in this stuff all afternoon. I am sure he’s going to develop a chronic respiratory illness someday. Harmful, illness-causing germs cannot survive long at room temperature and the tables aren’t crusted with filth, so why the need for smelly cleaning fluid?