The Impact of Chemicals in Cleaning Products on the Ecosystem
In order to change behaviour it is important to arm yourself with the information to understand why the change is so important. Many standard cleaning products contain a number of damaging chemicals which can harm both the ecosystem and your body.
Ecosystem Chemical Cleanup 101:
Ammonia
This is commonly present in glass cleaning products. Spraying it on your windows can pollute the air inside, as well as damage your skin, eyes and breathing system. Environmentally, ammonia is disastrous when entering the air or water systems. It kills aquatic life and causes an unbalanced growth of algae due to the higher levels of nitrogen. This in turn depletes oxygen in the water and damages the fragile ecosystem, killing fish and plant life.
Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)
A well known whitening and disinfectant product, bleach is common across laundry detergents, bathroom cleaners and mold removers. It is very effective at killing bacterial in your house, but that means as it gets washed into the waterways, it kills pretty much everything in the ecosystem that it comes in contact with, making it very damaging for the environment, as well as your skin and respiratory system. The high level of chlorine in bleach is very damaging to plant and aquatic life.
Triclosan:
This is present in products with antibacterial properties, such as hand soap or dishwashing detergents. Scarily, it can have an impact on antibiotic resistance in humans as well as interfere with hormone regulation. It is detrimental for the environment, entering water ecosystems and impacting aquatic life in a similar way to humans. It has a long shelf life, meaning it will stay in an environment for a long time, causing maximum damage to aquatic food chains.
Phthalates:
To make cleaning products smell nice, phthalates are added to elicit a clean odour in your house. However, phthalates can affect hormone function and have been linked to reproductive and developmental issues in both humans and wildlife. Phthalates are not chemically bound to their cleaning products, meaning they can release easily into the ecosystem and cause imbalance in nature.
Perchloroethylene (PERC)
This chemical is commonly found in carpet and upholstery cleaners. It is a volatile organic compound that has been found throughout the aquatic food chain as a result of run off into the ecosystem from human activity. It has been shown to cause respiratory problems in humans and animals and contain possible carcinogens. Additionally, it can cause sickness and dizziness. It has been found in greater quantities further up the aquatic food chain, damaging underwater life as well as being in fish consumed by humans.
Sodium Hydroxide
A regular chemical present in oven and drain cleaners, it is highly toxic and can cause serious burns. The release of this chemical into aquatic systems increases the PH level of water due to its high alkaline quality, disrupting the ecosystem and killing fish life.
Formaldehyde
Another volatile organic compound, this is regularly used as preservative in cleaning products. It forms as a pungent gas with no colour, it can pollute air, water and soil systems. It has an impact on nutrient cycling in the earth, affecting plant life. Within aquatic systems, formaldehyde can cause adverse respiratory and nervous system effects in fish.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS):
This surfactant is present in so many products within the home, from personal hygiene products (soap, shampoo, etc) to cleaning products. As well as causing skin irritation and potential carcinogens, SLS is damaging for the aquatic systems when washed down the shower each day. It is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates, affecting hormone levels and reproduction.
Ammonium Quaternary Compounds:
These are found in disinfectant wipes, sprays, and laundry products like fabric softeners. They can invoke respiratory issues and skin irritation. For the environment, they are harmful to aquatic life. They have also been shown to increase antimicrobial resistance, a concerning imbalance to the ecosystem.
If you are feeling a little scared and depressed after reading that, don’t worry…we have researched sustainable ways you can help your body and the ecosystem by finding products that replace harmful chemicals, and importantly, still deliver performance to get your home clean!
