Our bodies absorb toxins either through the skin,
by swallowing or by breathing them in. Different
chemicals and different degrees of exposure produce
different effects on the body. These effects can
range from acute poisoning through to chronic,
long-term or delayed effects. Acute effects occur
when someone absorbs or swallows or inhales a
poisonous substance such as kerosene, or bleach.
Acute poisoning is very obvious with symptoms
occurring almost immediately. Sometimes the effects
of the toxins are less obvious and result in
symptoms such as skin rashes, headaches and
breathing difficulties. These symptoms may be short
lived or chronic. They may recur when the person
comes in contact with the chemical again - often
more severe with repeated contact. Some chemicals
accumulate in our body.
Chronic effects of toxic household cleaning
products are often quite subtle and difficult to
link to the chemical exposure. Symptoms may include
migraine, depression, giddiness, nausea, or high
blood pressure.
Long-term or delayed health effects of household
products tend to fall under three categories:
carcinogens, reproductive toxins,
and endocrine disrupting chemicals.
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. A
carcinogenic material is one that is known to cause
cancer. A known human carcinogen means that there is
sufficient evidence of a cause and effect
relationship between exposure to the material and
cancer in humans. Carcinogens cause cancer by
altering or damaging cell DNA. The DNA damage can
then lead to the uncontrolled cell growth that is
known as cancer.
There are a number of carcinogens in common
household products. We do not need to be exposed to
these chemicals. They can have potentially
destructive health consequences. These substances
may be in small amounts, but over time, the
cumulative effect can lead to cancer.
Chemical reproductive toxins are chemicals that
affect reproductive capability and include the
following four general categories:
- Mutagens. Mutagens are chemicals that
may cause a change in the genetic material of a
cell.
- Teratogens. Teratogens are chemicals
that may affect the viability or cause physical
or metabolic defects in the developing embryo or
foetus when a pregnant female is exposed to the
chemical.
- Sterility/Infertility. Chemicals that
may affect female or male fertility.
- Lactation. Chemicals that may be
transferred from the mother to the baby through
the breast milk and cause adverse health effects
in the baby.
Fortunately there are not many reproductive
toxins found in household products, but there are
some. One such chemical, 2-butoxyethanol, appears in
a number of spray cleaners, window cleaners and
other products.
An endocrine-disruptor is a chemical, or mixture
that alters the function of the endocrine system ie
in its production, release, transport, metabolism,
binding, action or elimination of natural hormones
in the body, and consequently causes adverse health
effects. These chemicals are chemically similar to
human hormones and sometimes they increase their
effect with unpredictable results.
Many household cleaning products we use everyday
contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. One of the
largest group of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs)
known as nonyl phenols and their ethoxylates are in
many cleaning products.
Toxic chemicals can also affect our immune
system. One class of immune disorders is
'hypersensitivity' reactions, or allergic reactions,
such as asthma, hay fever, and food allergies, some
of which may be minor, others fatal. As early as
1984, the US National Toxicology Program observed
that chemical damage to the immune system could
result in 'hypersensitivity or allergy' to specific
chemicals or to chemicals in general. Damage to the
immune system can have far-reaching consequences for
an individual, leaving him or her vulnerable to
attack by bacteria and viruses, at heightened risk
of cancer, and even predisposed to develop HIV/AIDS
