Certified green cleaning services and products reduce our unnecessary exposure to toxic chemicals, commonly found or hidden in consumer and commercial cleaners and disinfectants.
Green Cleaning Services as a Cancer Prevention Method
Consumers are rapidly becoming more aware of the consequences stemming from the use of, and exposure to, conventional and commercial cleaning products, specifically, bleach.
According to a recent paper published by the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University;
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and many organic chemicals contained in household cleaning products may react to generate halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Halogenated VOC emissions from eight different chlorine bleach containing household products (pure and diluted) were investigated by headspace experiments.
Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were the leading compounds along with several halogenated compounds in the headspace of chlorine bleach products.
One of the most surprising results was the presence of carbon tetrachloride (a probable human carcinogen and a powerful greenhouse gas that was banned for household use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in very high concentrations
By mixing surfactants or soap with NaOCl, it was shown that the formation of carbon tetrachloride and several other halogenated VOCs is possible.
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These results indicated that the bleach use can be important in terms of inhalation exposure to carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and several other halogenated VOCs.
Halogenated volatile organic compounds from the use of chlorine-bleach-containing household products
Certified green cleaning products do not contain harmful VOC's, and eliminate environmental exposure to toxic airborne pollutants that can lead to cancer, specifically amongst the most vulnerable demographic, children.
According to Green Schools;
One in five Californians spend their day at school, including students, teachers, and staff.
Alarmingly, the California Air Resources Board found significant environmental health concerns in many of California’s classrooms.
Some of these concerns stem from the very products used to keep the school clean.
As a result, school children and staff are unnecessarily exposed to chemicals commonly found in traditional cleaning products, chemicals that have been linked to asthma and other respiratory problems, cancer, reproductive and neurological harm, hormone disruption, water pollution, smog, and damage to the ozone layer.
Health and Environmental Benefits of Green Cleaning Products
Green Cleaning Services for Cancer Recovery Patients
The associated health benefits of switching to certified green cleaning products and sustainable processes, such as cross-contamination prevention, specifically where compromised immune systems are concerned, have been well documented, and provide an ideal environment for cancer patient recovery.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 80% of infections are due to environmental conditions.
The primary culprit identified in environmental infections was surface cross-contamination.
Additionally, care for patients with compromised immune systems is hindered by an inability to move them due to cleaning conditions along the transitional path or destination.
Those conditions are complicated by the products used to sanitize the environment and the potential for the inducement of negative reactions in the recovering patient due to the chemicals contained in common hospital-grade disinfectants.
Source:
Cleaning Products and Cancer-Causing Chemicals
According to Cancer News, several cancer-causing chemicals are often hidden in consumer and commercial cleaning products, including:
- Alkylphenols
- Synthetic musks
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde (Formalin)
- Terpenes
- 1.4-dichlorobenzene
- Benzene
- Phenol
- Styrene
- NPE (Nonylphenol ethoxylates), and;
- Butyl cellosolve
The results of research which studied the effects of long-term exposure to these chemicals, especially in women, discovered that;
Breast cancer risks were twice likely to appear with women who use cleaning chemicals and air fresheners the most than those who use them least.
Solid air freshener and mildew and mould control users were both associated with 70% increased risk.
Results of this study suggest that the use of cleaning chemicals contributes to increased breast cancer risk.
Cleaning chemicals and air fresheners are of interest in breast cancer research because many ingredients contain endocrine disrupting compounds and mammary gland carcinogens in animals.
Some compounds affect growth of estrogen –sensitive human breast cancer cells. Animals exposed to chemicals found in cleaning agents are observed to have mammary gland tumors.
Mammary gland development in rats may affect tumor susceptibility.
The laboratory studies gives evidence of widespread human exposure to cleaning chemicals containing mammary gland carcinogens may contribute to breast cancer in humans.
References & Resources
- Rethinking Cancer
- Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals
- The Top 12 Cancer-Causing products in the Average Home
- Cleaning Supplies and Your Health
Takeaway
Switching to green cleaning products and practices eliminates our exposure to toxic, cancer-causing chemicals as well as provides a safe and healthy environment for patient recovery without the potential for inducing negative reactions as a result of immuno-compromised patients coming into contact with environmental VOCs, as well as cost-effectively eliminating dangerous surface cross-contamination issues.
If you would like to learn more about the advantages of certified green cleaning services as a method for reducing exposure to cancer-causing toxic cleaning products, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
