Let's start by getting out one of the cleaning products you regularly use from under your sink. Take a good look at the ingredients list- notice anything? (A lack of or incomplete list of ingredients) Why is this? Probably because a few of the ingredients are TOXIC! 

How can this be? Here's the official ruling:
"The Federal Code of Regulations defines "Hazardous Chemicals"  in Section 1910.1200c Title 29. However, the term "Hazardous" does  NOT include hazardous ingredients used in products designed for personal, family, or household use. The Federal Code of Regulations section 1500.82, EXEMPTS manufacturers from full labeling, allowing  them to exclude "Hazardous" chemicals from their labels.”

Basically the government is leaving it up to us to know right from wrong! This is especially disturbing considering all of the commercials we see for cleaning products on television, and the fact that it all seems so innocent,,, but it's not. The government and other agencies HAVE WARNINGS but, similar to The Freedom of Information Act, it's up to you to find the information as they are not going to publicize it!

Here's some of the government warnings we found:

* The President's Toxic Substances Strategy Committee warns 90% of all cancers are triggered by toxic chemicals in our home environment.    
* The Consumer Product Safety Commission connects 150 toxic chemicals in our homes to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities.    
* The EPA warns toxic chemicals in household cleaners cause women working at home to have a 55% HIGHER cancer risk than women working outside the home.    
* In a similar study to the above EPA study, The National Cancer Association released  results of a 15 year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54%  higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home due to the  toxic fumes from cleaning and laundry products that they use (the percentage is very close to the EPA’s report!).
* The EPA warns the nation's worst pollution is inside our homes. A number of homes  tested have toxic chemical levels 70 times higher inside the home than outside.    
* The Mayo Clinic warns Formaldehyde in our household and personal care products  can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions, and trigger heart palpitations.    
* The Harvard School of Public Health warns Formaldehyde can cause headaches, depression, joint pain, chronic fatigue, chest pains, ear infections, dizziness, and loss of sleep.    
* The California Public Research Group warns Phenol, which is used in most household disinfectants, can cause cancer, deactivate the sensory nerve endings, damage  the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.


OK, so here's a short list of harmful ingredients that are in many household cleaners and are of particular concern because they are carcinogens, endocrine disrupters or known or suspected reproductive toxins.

Acid Blue 9: Carcinogenic. Used in some toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers
Ammonia: Irritation to eyes and mucous membranes. Breathing difficulty, wheezing, chest pains, pulmonary edema, skin burns. High exposure can lead to blindness, lung damage, heart attack or death.
2-butoxyethanol/ Ethylene glycol butyl ether: A glycol ether used to clean carpets and also found in some specialty cleaners. Can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause blood disorders, as well as liver and kidney damage. May also cause reproductive damage with long-term exposure.
1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB): Linked to a reduction in pulmonary function. Found in deodorizing products such as room fresheners, urinal cakes, toilet bowl fresheners and cleaning products. Also a pesticide ingredient.
Di-propylene Glycol Methyl Ether: Eye and skin irritant. Used in some laundry, soil and stain remover, car interiors and exterior cleaners.
Ethoxylated nonyl phenols (NPEs): Known as “gender-benders,” nonyl phenols can induce female characteristics in male fish, for example. The threat posed to the environment by nonyl phenols prompted the European Union to ban  them from all cleaning products manufactured or used in the EU. Still used in the U.S.
Methylene chloride Methylene chloride: Listed as a possible human carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer and is commonly found in paint strippers. In 1987, regulators in the U.S. compelled manufacturers to put warning labels on products containing methylene chloride.
Naphthalene Either naphthalene, paradichlorobenzene: Used in mothballs and moth crystals. Naphthalene is listed by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment as  a substance “know to the state to cause cancer,” while paradichlorobenzene is listed by IARC as a  possible human carcinogen. Avoid all moth products that contain either of these two ingredients.
Oil of Orange: Skin irritant. Carcinogenic. Used in some all purpose cleaners, furniture polishes, and spot  removers.
Silica: Made from finely ground quartz- AKA Crystalline Silica: Eye, skin, and lung irritant. Carcinogenic. Its hazard occurs in its dry form and not liquid  state. Used in some highly popular brands of cat litter, paints, and some powdered flea control products for  pets. silica is carcinogenic as a fine respirable dust. Silica is found in that form in some abrasive cleansers, which are often used on a regular basis around the home.
Toluene: is a potent reproductive toxin, which is used as a solvent in numerous products, including paints. Eye and skin irritant. Can cause cardiac sensitization. Also found in nail polish. Listed by California’s Office of Environmental Health  Hazard Assessment as a "reproductive toxin that may cause harm to the developing fetus."  Pregnant women should avoid products containing toluene.
Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA): NTA is listed as a possible human carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is used in laundry detergents and has been proven an adverse environmental hazard as it can impede the elimination of metals in wastewater treatment plants. NTA’s causes metals that have already settled out to be re-mobilized back into the liquid waste stream.
Xylene: Extremely toxic ingredient- found in graffiti and scuff removers, spray paints and  some adhesives. Shown to cause reproductive harm in laboratory experiments, it is also a neurotoxicant that can cause memory loss on repeated exposure.
Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite): Corrosive. Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Sensitizer. Can be fatal if swallowed especially harmful to people with heart conditions or asthma. Used in a wide range of household cleaners. If you mix bleach with an acid (typically found in toilet bowl cleaners), it reacts with them to form chlorine gas. When it is mixed with ammonia, it can create chloramine gas, another toxic substance. In the environment, bleach is acutely toxic to fish. Canada has been trying some time to outlaw bleach.
Phosphates:  Manufacturers have since reduced or even eliminated phosphates from laundry products, but no action has ever been taken on dishwasher detergents. Most of the products available from major manufacturers contain 30-40 per cent phosphates. Some also contain high levels of chlorine-based sanitizing ingredients.
Quaternary Ammonium Compound: Eye and skin irritant. Used in some all-purpose cleaners and laundry fabric softeners.
Quaternium 5: Eye and skin irritant: Allergen. Can release formaldehyde (known carcinogen) Used in some hand and automatic dishwashing products.

And this is the short list!!!! The bigger list may contain some 72,000 chemicals! This is of course overwhelming to almost anyone! But fortunately there are some common sense guidelines that make it possible for us to "not know" all of the terms, regulations and chemicals to avoid.  Click here