The two household products that I looked up in the National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database (Database) were Formula 409 Antibacterial All Purpose Cleaner (409) and Roundup Weed and Grass Killer (Roundup).
409
Health risks:
1After reviewing the information listed from the Database on 409,I was surprised to find that the only potential health hazard listed was "eye irritant." This was listed under "Acute Health Effects." 1However, under the topic of "Chronic Health Effects," no information was provided. This does not mean that there are none, it just means that information regarding this topic was not given. 1Additionally, none of the ingredients listed are on the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), National Toxicology Program (NTP), or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) carcinogen list.
Although the information listed above does not show any immediate health risks, it is the unknown information that I am worried about. In response to the lack of information I have decided to discontinue using 409 entirely, and to find an alternative product that has information showing that it is safe to use. In this case what I do not know could hurt me, and this is a risk that I am not willing to take.
Roundup
Health risks:
2The only acute health risk listed as being associated with Roundup include moderate eye irritation. 2No other information is provided under chronic health effects either. 2Additionally, the manufacture's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) does not state whether the ingredients are considered carcinogens or potential carcinogens.
Therefore, similar to my previous response listed above in regards to the lack of health effects information pertaining to 409, I have decided to discontinue using Roundup entirely. Instead, I will locate an alternative product that has disclosed its health effects information in full, and choose the one that will cause the least amount of harm.
In reviewing the household items:
Were you surprised to find out the toxicity rating of your household products?
I was surprised to find a lack of toxicity rating for both of the household products that I chose. I had anticipated being able to view the ratings, and to further investigate the information. 1,2Unfortunately, the ratings all showed "N" which equals, "No information provided by manufacturer." This leaves me wondering if the products are truly safe or not.
Did you decide to change any of your consumer behaviors based on your findings?
Yes, I have decided going forward to choose/purchase products that fully disclose the health effects of their ingredients. I do not feel comfortable using products when I am unsure of how they will affect my health in both the short-term and the long-term.
Should everyone know about this risks and why don’t they?
Yes, everyone should know about the risks associated with the household products that they use. It is important to be able to make informed decisions about household items that have the potential of impacting a person's health. The main reason why everyone does not know about the health risks related to their household products is because manufactures are not required to disclose this information to consumers. This needs to change.
References:
- Formula 409 Antibacterial All Purpose Cleaner. Retrieved from: https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=3027131
- Roundup Weed and Grass Killer. Retrieved from: https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=13019028
I am glad that you posted information on this product because it is a popular cleaning product. I was also surprised by the mere 'eye irritant' health hazard. I thought it would at least state more information on other exposures like ingestion, skin irritants, or more. I will also be using something else that is more natural like Seventh Generation products or homemade vinegar sprays.
ReplyDeleteHi Elesia. I was also surprised by the mere "eye irritant" under acute health effects for 409. After reading your comment, I decided to take another look to make sure I didn't inadvertently leave out information. However, other exposures like ingestion or skin irritants were not mention except under "First Aid" conditions, although they most likely should be.
DeleteHi Angie. I was also surprised that some household cleaning products had low toxicity levels. I would have thought their would be more chemicals in cleaning products. I completely agree that everyone should know what is in their cleaning products. Manufactures should be required to disclose what they put in their products.
ReplyDeleteHi Navleen. Thank you for your comment. Since I don't fully trust that household cleaning products have as low of toxicity levels as they say, I'm going to follow Elesia's lead (see Elesia's comment above) and try mixing some of my own vinegar cleaning sprays. I'll feel more comfortable using this on daily basis since I'll know exactly what is in it.
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