Darlene
May 11th, 2009, 07:13 PM
Natural Home Care Glossary of Terms
Ammonia: When inhaled, ammonia can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia with repeated exposure. Commonly found in window cleaners.
Benzene: Also known as benzol, bezole, benzene, this chemical is commonly found in detergents and furniture polishes. This chemical is a petroleum derivative and classified as an air pollutant by the Clean Air Act.
Boron: Primarily used for stain removal, boron is a synthetic chemical used as a performance booster and a preservative.
Butyl Cellosolve: This synthetic solvent and grease cutter is a skin and eye irritant. Short-term exposure can cause headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness. This chemical is commonly found among all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, window cleaners and a wide range of other cleaning products.
Chlorine: This chemical is a powerful respiratory irritant that can be fatal when inhaled. Commonly used for disinfecting.
Diethylene: A synthetic surfactant used to neutralize acids. Often reacts with other nitrites while sitting on the shelf. This reaction leads to the formation of nitrosamines, which are potential carcinogens.
Dyes: Synthetic colorants used to pigment cleaning products most commonly found in window and all-purpose cleaners.
Formaldehyde: This is an inexpensive preservative and disinfectant that is commonly found in air fresheners and disinfectants. This known carcinogen can severely irritate skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to skin allergies and asthma attacks.
Isopropanol: This is a petroleum-based solvent commonly found in window cleaners. Long-term exposure can irritate skin, eyes and may cause redness or itching. Short-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness. Kerosene: A petroleum distillate that can damage the lungs and is commonly found in furniture polish.
Mineral Spirit: A general solvent and synthetic degreaser commonly found in all-purpose cleaners, window cleaners and liquid dish soap. Also contains toxic aromatic compounds.
Petrochemical: These nonrenewable byproducts come from crude oil and may also contain low levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hyrdocarbons which are suspected carcinogens.
Phosphate: Commonly found in laundry detergents and automatic dishwashing detergents these water-softening mineral additives are a major water pollutant leading to the overgrowth of algae in lakes and streams.
Phosphoric Acid: This chemical is an aggressive acid-based surfactant commonly found among toilet bowl cleaners. This eye, skin and respiratory irritant is also classified as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act.
Phthalates: Often used in fragrances as a carrier to blend liquids and oils, this chemical compound is also an irritant and carcinogen.
Propylene: This synthetic ingredient is made from nonrenewable fossil fuels and is commonly found in all purpose cleaners, window cleaners and tub & tile cleaners. Propylene glycol is also used in anti-freeze, brake fluid, paints and detergents.
Glycol: Commonly used in a variety of soaps for sudsing this chemical is a known skin and eye irritant.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This chemical is the core ingredient in most conventional sudsing products such as liquid hand soap, dish soaps and laundry detergents. This synthetic solvent breaks down grease and can cause skin and eye irritation.
Sulfuric Acid: A corrosive that can cause burns or eye damage. Commonly found in toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners.
Ammonia: When inhaled, ammonia can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia with repeated exposure. Commonly found in window cleaners.
Benzene: Also known as benzol, bezole, benzene, this chemical is commonly found in detergents and furniture polishes. This chemical is a petroleum derivative and classified as an air pollutant by the Clean Air Act.
Boron: Primarily used for stain removal, boron is a synthetic chemical used as a performance booster and a preservative.
Butyl Cellosolve: This synthetic solvent and grease cutter is a skin and eye irritant. Short-term exposure can cause headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness. This chemical is commonly found among all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, window cleaners and a wide range of other cleaning products.
Chlorine: This chemical is a powerful respiratory irritant that can be fatal when inhaled. Commonly used for disinfecting.
Diethylene: A synthetic surfactant used to neutralize acids. Often reacts with other nitrites while sitting on the shelf. This reaction leads to the formation of nitrosamines, which are potential carcinogens.
Dyes: Synthetic colorants used to pigment cleaning products most commonly found in window and all-purpose cleaners.
Formaldehyde: This is an inexpensive preservative and disinfectant that is commonly found in air fresheners and disinfectants. This known carcinogen can severely irritate skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to skin allergies and asthma attacks.
Isopropanol: This is a petroleum-based solvent commonly found in window cleaners. Long-term exposure can irritate skin, eyes and may cause redness or itching. Short-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness. Kerosene: A petroleum distillate that can damage the lungs and is commonly found in furniture polish.
Mineral Spirit: A general solvent and synthetic degreaser commonly found in all-purpose cleaners, window cleaners and liquid dish soap. Also contains toxic aromatic compounds.
Petrochemical: These nonrenewable byproducts come from crude oil and may also contain low levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hyrdocarbons which are suspected carcinogens.
Phosphate: Commonly found in laundry detergents and automatic dishwashing detergents these water-softening mineral additives are a major water pollutant leading to the overgrowth of algae in lakes and streams.
Phosphoric Acid: This chemical is an aggressive acid-based surfactant commonly found among toilet bowl cleaners. This eye, skin and respiratory irritant is also classified as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act.
Phthalates: Often used in fragrances as a carrier to blend liquids and oils, this chemical compound is also an irritant and carcinogen.
Propylene: This synthetic ingredient is made from nonrenewable fossil fuels and is commonly found in all purpose cleaners, window cleaners and tub & tile cleaners. Propylene glycol is also used in anti-freeze, brake fluid, paints and detergents.
Glycol: Commonly used in a variety of soaps for sudsing this chemical is a known skin and eye irritant.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This chemical is the core ingredient in most conventional sudsing products such as liquid hand soap, dish soaps and laundry detergents. This synthetic solvent breaks down grease and can cause skin and eye irritation.
Sulfuric Acid: A corrosive that can cause burns or eye damage. Commonly found in toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners.