Presentation Transcript

1. Green and Clean

   Safer & Cheaper Home Cleaning Products Materials developed under a grant from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute, UMASS Lowell. FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
2. WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? Meeting the needs of the present generation of life (human and non-human) without compromising the ability of future generations of life to meet their own needs. FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
3. WHAT IS GREEN? Products and services that have reduced health and environmental impacts. Some ways a product can be green are: Less toxicity Biodegradable No/low VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) No carcinogens (cause cancer) or hormone disruptors Will not irritate skin/eyes FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
4. The Vida Verde Story On average, a janitor uses 48 pounds of hazardous chemicals per year FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12 Vida Verde Members - 2009
5. Has anyone noticed a respiratory problem when they clean? FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
6. Potential problems with household cleaners HEALTH ENVIRONMENT Indoor air pollution Poisonous if ingested Corrosive (burns) Toxic cancer reproductive harm disrupts hormone system Irritant (nose, eyes, lungs) All ingredients are not biodegradable Some ingredients break down into even MORE toxic substances Threatens fish, wildlife and humans – in soil, water and air AND they can be expensive!................ FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
7. SOME FACTS In 2000, 10% of all calls to the US Poison Control Center were from exposure to cleaning products. Over ½ of those calls were for children less than 6 years old (120,434 calls). According to the EPA – toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3X more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution Study of 1,915 cases of work-related asthma: 236 cases (12%) were due to cleaning products; 80% of these were new cases FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
8. HEALTH EFFECTS LONG-TERM (CHRONIC) IMMEDIATE (ACUTE) skin irritation respiratory irritation watery eyes chemical burns asthma attack cancer hormone disruption asthma reproductive problems liver damage kidney damage central nervous system damage FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
9. ACUTE DANGERS (immediate) CORROSIVE PRODUCTS Severe Burns on eyes, skin and if ingested, throat and esophagus (oven cleaners, drain cleaners, acidic toilet bowl cleaners) CHLORINE BLEACH & AMMONIA NEVER mix – they react with each other to produce toxic gases that damage the lungs Should NOT be used by people with asthma or heart and lung problems Fumes are highly irritating to eyes, nose, throat, lungs AVOID! FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
10. MORE ABOUT CHLORINE BLEACH & AMMONIA… NEVER mix these ingredients together!!! Ammonia + Chorine Bleach  CHLORAMINE GASES Ammonia + Lye (in some oven cleaners)  CHLORAMINE GASES Chlorine Bleach + Acids  Toxic Chlorine Gas (in some common toilet bowl cleaners, vinegar is acidic) FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12 10
11. ACUTE DANGERS (continued) FRAGRANCES In sensitive individuals, or people with asthma or allergies fragrances can cause: Respiratory irritation Headaches Sneezing Watery eyes Trigger an asthma attack 1/3 of substances used in fragrances are TOXIC (Phthalates – reproductive harm) Fragrances are considered “trade secrets” so their ingredients don’t have to be listed- You just see the word “fragrance” on the list of ingredients. AVOID! FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
12. WARNING LABELS Most Dangerous Safest FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
13. LONG-TERM (chronic) EFFECTS CANCER HORMONE DISRUPTION Chemicals that interfere with body’s natural chemical messages (hormones). They either mimic or block hormones. They can cause cancer, birth defects and immune problems. They can lower sperm counts & increase rate of male birth defects. LIVER DAMAGE KIDNEY DAMAGE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE (brain, nerves) ASTHMA FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12

14. DO YOU HAVE TO BE A CHEMIST TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE SAFELY?

    NONYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATES FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
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17. Sweden: In1998, 25% of toothpaste had triclosan- about 2 tons of active ingredient FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
18. DISINFECTANT QUIZTrue or False? Disinfecting is another word that means cleaning. Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to protect yourself from illness and infection. You should disinfect more often if you have a baby in the house. There is never a reason to use disinfectants or antibacterial cleaners. All bacteria is harmful, which is why it’s important to disinfect. FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
19. WHY IS THIS SO CONFUSING? Complicated ingredient names Ex: nonylphenolethoxylate, dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride Lots of different names for the same ingredient Ex: 2-Butoxyethanol; Butoxyethanol; Butyl cellosolve; Ethanol, 2-butoxy-; Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether; Ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether; Monobutyl ethylene glycol ether; n-Butoxyethanol All ingredients aren’t listed on the label FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
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21. MYTHS If it’s on the shelf, then it’s safe. Companies don’t have to disclose the ingredients Companies often claim it’s a “trade secret” – especially fragrances If it says “GREEN” or “NATURAL” or “ECO-FRIENDLY then it’s safe & environmentally friendly. FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
22. Simple Green products still contain: Glycol ethers (reduced fertility; low birth weight) Ingredient Disclosure on Website Some ingredients on www.simplegreen.com Not disclosing: Ingredients in dyes Ingredients in preservatives Ingredients in fragrances Ingredient Disclosure on Product Label No Makes: Simple Green® and Simple Green Naturals® FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12 Women’s Voices for the Earth Website
23. Shop for products that: List all ingredients Biodegradable Are plant-based not petroleum-based pH neutral (not a strong acid or base) Packaged in pump-spray bottles not aerosol cans Are third party certified FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
24. What to look for…….. Specific ecological labels like: “no solvents” “plant-based” “no phosphates” “biodegradable in 3 to 5 days” Not just “natural” or “eco-friendly” or “green” (ex: Mean Green at Walmart’s is $1.24/qt but no ingredients are listed – is it really “green” – what’s in it? - where’s the proof?) Not just greenwashing….“no CFCs” (CFCs have already been banned internationally) FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
25. LET’S LOOK AT SOME PRODUCT LABELS FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
26. Other Pollution Prevention Opportunities Chemical Substitutions Use vinegar to clean windows instead of a glass cleaner containing butoxyethanol Chemical Use Reduction Dilute as much as possible and use only when absolutely necessary Toilet bowl cleaner – use acid-based cleaners only when needed to remove hard water deposits and stubborn stains. Use a mild product for daily cleaning. Indirect strategies Floor mat at entrance Vacuuming Changing the Cleaning Process Add vinegar and baking soda to oven, spritz with water, go to bed! Rinse off in morning. FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
27. IS THERE ANOTHER EASIER WAY? YES!!!!! (and it’s usually cheaper!) PLUS! You don’t need a degree in chemistry! FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
28. THE SOLUTIONS! Clean with safer, simpler ingredients!!!! Vinegar Baking soda Castile soap Water Olive Oil a coarse sponge SAFER, SIMPLER and CHEAPER!!!!!! FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
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30. DOES VINEGAR REALLY WORK IN REDUCING GERMS? TURI Lab has shown that when you use 100% (full strength) white vinegar, you can reduce bacterial count from 1 millionONE within 1 minute! FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
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33. COST COMPARISONS FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12
34. GREEN INGREDIENTS $2.12/4 lb Baking soda; Walmart in laundry isle $ 2.32/gal White Vinegar; Walmart $ 12.19/32 oz Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap; Hannaford's $16.63TOTAL With these ingredients you’d have enough Castile soap to make 9 quarts of All Purpose Cleaner PLUS enough vinegar and baking soda left over to make: 4 quarts of Toilet Bowl Cleaner 1 quart Glass Cleaner clean the oven 2X (assuming you use 1 lb of baking soda each time) $16.63 You save $27.63! (plus health care costs!) If you bought the same amount of pre-made cleaners the cost would be: 9 Green Works All Purpose Cleaner at $2.77 each = $24.934 The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner at $1.59 each = $ 6.36 1 Green Works Glass Cleaner at $2.99 each = $ 2.99 2 Easy Off oven cleaner at $4.99 each = $ 9.98 TOTAL = $44.26 FINAL Oct 17, 2011-updated 1-4-12 34