Be it at home or at nursery school, both parents and childcare providers struggle to win the infectious disease battle, or at least declare a standoff, through regular use of powerful cleaning and disinfecting agents. While these cleaners may protect your child by defeating the germs, they may also pose potential health risks because of the sometimes toxic ingredients they contain. And while you cannot control the toxins that permeate public facilities, you do have a say in the how you choose to keep your own home clean.
Keeping a clean house is a necessary step in providing a safe living environment. Through proper cleaning and disinfection in the kitchen, for example, contact with disease-causing bacteria from raw or undercooked meat, shellfish, fish, and eggs can be reduced. But the products we use to clean the house can also have unintended health consequences.
Some research regarding the health risks of cleaning products has focused on adult janitorial staff working with industrial cleaners in settings outside of the home. This is because they tend to use more powerful and concentrated cleaning products daily. While household cleaners tend to be more dilute and less potent than their industrial-strength counterparts, many do contain some of the same potentially harmful ingredients. And while both children and adults are susceptible to the consequences of toxic chemical exposure, children are more susceptible because of their smaller size, rapidly growing bodies and immature immune systems.
Some chemicals that may be a concern include:
These compounds can be found in floor and carpet cleaners, degreasers, toilet/tub/tile cleaners, room deodorizers, oven cleaners, furniture polishes and waxes, laundry detergents, and disinfectants.
The good news is that safer cleaning products are available, and you can also employ safer cleaning techniques to protect yourself, your family, even your pets. To start, be sure to read all labels well. Do not assume a green bottle labeled “natural” is toxin-free. Also consider the following pointers to avoid purchasing toxic cleaners:
Manufacturers of cleaning products are required to prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information about a product’s health, fire, reactivity, and specific hazards, from a score of 0 (minimum) to 4 (severe) in each category. For household cleaning products, avoid any product with a score higher than 2 in any category. Visit the US Department of Health and Human Services Household Products Database website to find this and other helpful information on household cleaners.
Environmental Protection Agency
Healthy Child, Healthy World
Public Health Agency of Canada
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Easy steps: chemical. Healthy Child, Healthy World website. Available at: http://www.healthychild.org/easy-steps/chemical. Accessed August 12, 2015.
Green spring cleaning: 9 DIY recipes for natural cleaners. Healthy Child, Healthy World website. Available at: http://www.healthychild.org/easy-steps/green-spring-cleaning-9-diy-recipes-for-natural-cleaners. Accessed August 12, 2015.
Maitre A, Hours M, Bonneterre V, et al. Systemic sclerosis and occupational risk factors: role of solvents and cleaning products. J Rheumatol. 2004;31(12):2395-2401.
Medina-Ramon M, Zock JP, Kogevinas M, et al. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, and exposure to irritant agents in occupational domestic cleaning: A nested case-control study. Occup Environ Med. 2005;62(9):598-606.
Rudel , Camann DE, Spengler JD, Korn LR, Brody JG. Phthalates, alkylphenols, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and other endocrine-disrupting compounds in indoor air and dust. Environ Sci Technol 2003;37(20):4543-4553.
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Sure, your home is clean, but is it safe for your family? Environmental Protection Agency website. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/pubs/hhw-safe.htm. Accessed August 12, 2015.
Last reviewed August 2015 by Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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