Running head: HOME IS WHERE 1

Home is Where the Danger is: The Negative Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals in Household

Products

Katrin L. Hildum

First Colonial High School, Legal Studies Academy

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Abstract

This paper discusses the effects of different toxins in household cleaners and cosmetics. The

author defines key terms relating to this issue, explains major court cases and laws prohibiting

harmful products and disclosing when they are present. The author explains tactics used by

major chemicals companies to prevent laws from passing. The paper also details how Europe

regulates chemicals and how Europe produces safer cosmetics. A thorough explanation is given

about how major companies use manipulative advertising strategies to give the illusion of safe

products and how minority women are at a higher risk for exposure to these toxic chemicals. The

paper concludes by informing the reader about safe cosmetic brands, explains the simplicity of

making safe cleaning products at home and that there are many small businesses who make safe

products.

Home is where the danger is: The Negative Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals in Household
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The products used to clean houses and keep families from getting sick are killing them.

Toxic chemicals are being allowed into household products and cosmetics because of the death

grip the American Chemistry Council has on United States lawmakers. Because of this, the

United States has made very few policies preventing the use of these chemicals, though many

lobbyist groups have been working hard to get policy through on a state and federal level. This

apathy on the part of the United States government and the control that major chemical

companies have over lawmakers has lead to numerous health issues that can be directly linked to

exposure to products deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration and the United States

Environmental Protection Agency. Many products that are unsafe are still on the market. The

“Green Cleaning” movement has created a big push to not only make sure that products

containing these unsafe chemicals are properly labeled but to also get these toxins out of our

products.

History

There is a long standing history of ignorance with regard to the effects of toxic

substances. Many chemicals initially thought to be safe were found out to be deadly. Some of

these cases include the Radium girls, asbestos, and mercury in thermometers and hat production.

These are just the most well known cases where chemicals that were used in everyday life were

found to be dangerous. Those were just single harmful chemicals though; what we have today

are common household products full of carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and allergens. No

single agency is in charge of regulating the chemicals in our products. Due to lack of funding and

oversight though many chemicals were able to make it onto the market which would later be

deemed unsafe.

Health Issues
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Some key terms to know about this issue are bioaccumulation, endocrine disruptors,

carcinogens,allergens, parabens and phthalates.

Bioaccumulation is defined as

The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living

organism. Bioaccumulation takes place within an organism when the rate of intake of a

substance is greater than the rate of excretion or metabolic transformation of that

substance. ("Bioaccumulation," n.d.)

This build up in the body of toxins is what makes all of the chemicals so dangerous. In

small doses, all of these toxins are somewhat harmless, but everytime the body is exposed to

these toxins, it stores any amount that is taken in that is “greater than the rate of excretion”

("Bioaccumulation," n.d.). This means that over time, the more one is exposed to these

chemicals, the more they build up, often in the fatty tissues, and fatty acids of the body. Once

one are exposed to it and it is stored in the body and builds up in the body, that person is being

exposed to it more than just when they are using the product. They are being exposed to it every

minute of everyday.

Endocrine Disruptors are defined by the National Institute of Environmental Health

Sciences as “...chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce

adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and

wildlife...” Recently a study done by Women's Voices for the Earth found that there were

hormone disruptors in 20 popular household products from five major companies, but no

labeling found on the products disclosed that these chemicals were present (Scranton, 2011). The

harm that these chemicals cause can be life altering. Studies have shown that endocrine

disruptors can have adverse effects on fetal development in pregnant women, can lead to
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infertility in men and women, and are known to cause certain kinds of hormonally driven breast

cancers in men and women. In recent years the number of men and women diagnosed with breast

cancer has increased dramatically (Nachman & Hardy, directors, 2015).

Carcinogens are defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary as “any substance or agent that

causes cancer” ("Carcinogen," n.d.). Most of the products in the study conducted by Women’s

Voices for the Earth found that contained endocrine disruptors also contained known carcinogen

and harmful allergens. Many of these products were made by companies owned by Clorox and

Johnson & Johnson, well known brands that promised to remove harmful chemicals in 2013.

Instead of removing them, though, they just stopped disclosing the harmful chemicals on their

product labels (Scranton, 2011).

Allergens are often thought of as pollen and dust, common things that make can cause

eye irritation and slight difficulty breathing. But in severe cases, allergens can cause skin

irritation and inability to breath. It may not seem as though allergens in household products

would be harmful, but many people would not intentionally expose themselves to something that

is going to cause that kind of discomfort. Long term exposure to allergens can cause long term

breathing issues such as asthma (Dodson et al., 2012). In the last 30 years there has been a spike

in the number of people diagnosed with asthma (Greenwood, 2011). Though scientists have not

determined a definite cause of asthma, many believe it to be a combination of hereditary and

environmental factors. The widespread use of chemical cleaning products and aerosols is

believed to be a significant contributor ("September Asthma Peak," n.d.).

Parabens and phthalates are preservatives used in cosmetics and foods to keep them fresh.

This inorganic compounds are known to be carcinogens and should be avoided when purchasing

cosmetics ("Paraben," n.d.).

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Who it effect

Though this issue affects everyone, it especially effects women because they are using

more products that contain these chemicals such as makeups, and they are the ones often

working in hair salons, nail shops, and in cleaning jobs. All of these jobs increase exposure to

these harmful chemicals and put these women at a higher risk.

Women of color and women in poverty are at an even greater risk. Many hair products

for curly hair types contain of these harmful chemicals. Women of color are also more likely to

use feminine care products according to the “Chem Fatal Report” done by Women’s Voices for

the Earth (Scranton, 2013). Many of these products contain large quantity of fragrance

chemicals, parabens, and phthalates. Feminine care products containing these toxins are

especially dangerous because skin absorbs 70 percent of products placed on it, as can see this

through the use of nicotine and motion sickness patches(Thompson, 2016), the skin that these

products are used on is even more absorbent. In some cases absorbing chemicals into the body

10-80 times faster than chemicals applied elsewhere on the body (Scranton, 2013).

Women living and working in poverty are at an increased risk of exposure because

products containing these harmful toxins are cheaper to purchase. The products used in hair and

nail salons are not currently required to be labeled, preventing these women from knowing what

they are being exposed to. The same goes for women working in cleaning jobs. Many report

coming home sick or having severe migraine like headaches. These have all been attributed to

chemicals in the cleaning products.

Legality

United States Laws

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The first ever law regarding chemicals in household substances was the Toxic Substance

Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). The TSCA gave the Environmental Protection Agencies broad

oversight on what chemicals could be in products, but it excluded cosmetics. Cosmetic

ingredient oversight falls to the Food and Drug Administration. The Toxic Substance Control

Act was supposed to prevent dangerous substances from getting into products, but because of the

lack of clear legal lines drawn, manpower and funding, the Food and Drug Administration were

unable to test many chemicals already in products. This led to 62,000 chemicals being

grandfathered in under the assumption they were safe (Nachman & Hardy, directors, 2015).

Many of these substances were later found dangerous. Products such as asbestos and

formaldehyde are deemed safe under this law. Another issue is that there are very few laws in the

United States regarding this issue.

Disclosure Laws

The first ever disclosure law was passed in California in 2017. California Senate Bill 528

is also known as the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act. This law requires the disclosure of all

chemicals in “air care products, automotive products, chemically formulated consumer products,

colorants, and fragrances.” Companies did not previously have to disclose all the chemicals in

these products, even if those chemicals were proven to be carcinogens. This is landmark

legislation because often times it is hard to buy safer products when the companies are hiding

dangerous chemicals behind labels such as “fragrance” or “red and blue dye for color”(California

senate bill 528 ch 830). In all other states besides California and in all products except for those

listed under this new bill, it is still completely legal to avoid disclosing harmful products by

hiding them behind the aforementioned labels. The law states:

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This bill would require a manufacturer of a designated product, as defined, that is sold in

the state to disclose on the product label and on the product’s Internet Web site

information related to chemicals contained in the designated product, as specified. The

bill would authorize a manufacturer to protect certain chemicals from disclosure by use

of a generic name, as specified. The bill would prohibit the sale in the state of a

designated product that does not satisfy these requirements….This bill would require an

employer that is required to make a safety data sheet readily accessible to an employee

pursuant to that standard to make readily accessible in the same manner, for designated

products in the workplace, certain information included in the online disclosures

described above relating to chemicals contained in those products. Because a violation of

this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would provide that its provisions are severable.

It is also important that companies are required to inform their employees which toxic chemicals

are in products they are using. This helps people take safety precautions by choosing to limit

their exposure.

Laws in the Works

The Menstrual Products Right to Know Act and the Robin Danielson Feminine Hygiene

Safety Act are two bills that are waiting to be voted on in Congress. These bills advocate for the

disclosure of chemicals in feminine care products. Currently, no disclosure is required in these

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products, but research has shown that there are many harmful chemicals in these products such

as formaldehyde and chloroform (Dodson et al., 2012).

Lawsuits

There have been some lawsuits regarding long term exposure to products deemed safe.

Many suits have recently been filed against major companies for failure to disclose that there

were harmful chemicals in a product. The case of Eva Echeverria v Johnson & Johnson is one of

these cases. Ms Echeverria used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for 30 years until she was

diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She went into remission, but then her cancer came back and it is

now terminal. Many doctors have brought evidence forward showing that the talcum powder was

a carcinogen. Ms Echeverria is part of a large group of women who are suing Johnson & Johnson

after contracting ovarian and uterine cancer after prolonged use of Johnson & Johnson talcum

powder. Ms Echeverria was awarded 417 million dollars, the largest sum awarded in these

talcum powder lawsuits. A Johnson & Johnson representative said that the company would be

appealing the case (Balsamo, 2017).

Another recent lawsuit involved the men's deodorant giant Old Spice produced by Procter

and Gamble, when a Virginia man developed burns and irritation after applying the deodorant.

He is suing because one of the main ingredients in Old Spice High Endurance deodorant is

propylene glycol, a chemical that was known to be an irritant. The deodorant also contains

fragrance chemicals “...linked to headaches, skin irritation, impaired fertility and fetal

development, hormonal disruption and asthma” (Thompson, 2016). Though the company knew

these harmful chemicals were in its product, they failed to give appropriate labeling. The plaintiff

in the suit is asking that products be appropriately labeled, giving warning that these toxic

substances are present.

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Greenwashing

Major chemical and cosmetic companies use lots of different advertising tactics to make

sure their products sell. The most popular tactic as of late is greenwashing. This tactic makes a

product seem natural and eco-friendly, by using greens, browns, and pastels on product

containers, while also invoking images of plants and the environment on packages to give you a

false idea that the product is safe for you and the environment. The companies are able to get

away with this false advertising due to the lack of oversight by the Federal Trade Commission

(FTC).

Chemical company giants have also been known to fight dirty when it comes to killing a

bill that would make them have to reformulate their products. In a case in California the

American Chemistry Council singled out a minority board member, flew in young boys of the

same race from where he grew up, and had them beg to keep fire retardants, found to be

extremely unsafe, in products, so that they wouldn't burn to death if there was a house fire.

Clorox was recently sued over its “Green Works” products. Complaints were filed in the

“U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California” the class action suit claimed that

clorox misrepresented the product to make it seem natural and safe when in fact “the products

contain unnatural and harmful chemical ingredients which were associated with skin irritation,

allergic reactions, immune system toxicity and aquatic toxicity” the plaintiff in the case is asking

that the products be relabeled so as not to give the assumption that the product is “natural” and

thus provides benefits because of it (Hantman, 2017).

Major companies that are polluting products on the market work hard to keep other

brands from also advertising as natural. A lawsuit between Procter and Gamble and Hello

Products, a smaller toothpaste company, is still in court. As Procter and Gamble claims that
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Hello Products used false advertising in their slogan “naturally friendly” and in saying that there

product is “99% natural” when in fact there is almost nothing natural about it. The irony is not

lost in this case on those who know that Procter and Gamble is one of the largest chemical

companies, who uses greenwashing tactics regularly to push their products. Proctor and Gamble

is facing a suit right now about the danger of their chemically processed products, such as the

aforementioned Old Spice lawsuit (Weinstein, 2015).

Household Products Around the World

Thanks to the hard work of legislator and lobbyists in the European Union, Europe has

the strongest laws when it comes to regulating what can and can not be in everyday products.

The European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of

Chemicals (REACH) came into effect in 2007. REACH works hard to make sure that all

products which enter the market are safe for humans and the environment, while making sure

businesses are not too greatly impacted buy the effects of the legislation. It also works to create

new testing methods and other alternatives to current chemicals in circulation ("REACH -

Growth - European Commission," 2017).

Many harmful products such as “formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing agents” are

completely banned from use in beauty products in Japan and Sweden, and their use is extremely

limited in the rest of Europe, while the Food and Drug Administration has placed no restrictions

on them. Formaldehyde can even be found in Johnson & Johnson baby soap in the U.S. In

Europe, though, Johnson & Johnson has found a safer alternative to formaldehyde. They chose to

change the formulation only in Europe, where the laws are stricter, and kept the formaldehyde in

their United States line of baby soaps.

Non Cosmetic Household Products

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Toxins found in other household products also present an issue. Many stain repellents

found in furniture and fire retardants found in almost every household item, along with non stick

pans and plastic containers contain toxic chemicals which can give off gas.

Brominated flame retardants are the most common toxin found in homes besides cleaners

and cosmetics. Brominated flame retardants became popular because their ability to slow the

spread of fires, which theoretically makes a home safer, but the reality is very grim. These flame

retardants have been linked to many different health issues, from cancers to thyroid issues. In

testing done by the Center for Disease Control they found that there traces of brominated flame

retardants in almost every single person tested and concluded that it is likely that every person in

the United States has traces of the brominated flame retardants in there system. These chemicals

are stored in the fats of humans and even some pets. Once they are in the fatty acids of the body

they tend to stay in the body for the rest of its life. Studies have shown direct linkage between

flame retardants and “neurophysical ailments, including endocrine disruption, decreased fertility,

lower birth weights and developmental/cognitive problems” ("Toxic Flame Retardants," n.d.)

Many people love to cook with non-stick cookware. The chemical sprayed on the

cookware to make it non stick is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a carcinogen and

releases toxic fumes that are inhaled everytime they are used to cook. Also when PFOA is heated

it breaks down and becomes PFIB which is a chemical war agent similar to the nerve gases used

in World War II. It is in such small doses that it is not immediately harmful, but repeated long

term exposure can be detrimental to one's health ("Non-Stick Cookware Dangers & How to

Choose the Best Cookware," n.d.).

The Dupont chemical company that produces PFOA was sued in 2016 for

intentionally dumping PFOA into waterways in Ohio waterways contaminating two water
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districts in West Virginia and four in Ohio. A man sued in them in 2016 after his cancer was

linked to ingesting PFOA from the water. They were found to be acting with “malice” because

they new that PFOA was a carcinogen and intentionally disposed of by dumping it into the

waterways. Because the courts found the they “acted with malice” when putting this chemical

into the water and that it caused such severe illness when drank, it shows that using it when

cooking can be very dangerous. The Center for Disease Control conducted a similar study to the

one done when testing for traces of brominated flame. They tested a large samples of blood and

urine and found that statistically more than 95 percent of the United States population has PFOA

in their system (Nelson, 2016).

Safe Brands

It may seem that after hearing all of these lies the chemical companies tell that it would

be impossible to buy safe green products. At times it can be difficult. Safe, and truly greener

brands tend to be more expensive. It is also very simple to make your own safe cleaning

products. Vinegar, borax, and lemon juice are the base of many homemade cleaning products.

These simple cleaning products are effective and easy to make. Using vinegar and water to clean

surfaces can make a big difference in eliminating toxins from your home. Some good

organizations that provide recipes are Women's Voices for the Earth, Eartheasy, and Wellness

Mama. All of these sites provide easy instructions for make all different types of natural and

healthy cleaning products.

When looking at products to buy in stores it is important to read the label. Ingredients

such as parabens and phthalates should be avoided. The term “fragrance” is often used to avoid

disclosing harmful chemicals such as parabens and phthalates, so avoid things that contain that

also.
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There are also many small businesses which make safe products and sell them at local

farmers markets. The best site to find even more information on this topic is Women’s Voices

for the Earth . This is an organization of women who want safer products for their families.

They are the biggest organization in the Green Cleaning Movement. They work hard with

legislators to author and pass bills concerning clean products. Women’s Voices for the Earth state

that there mission is “to amplify women’s voices to eliminate the toxic chemicals that harm our

health and communities” and their vision is “... a world where women lead to create a healthy

environment without toxic chemicals in our workplaces, homes, and communities” ("Mission,

Vision and Core Values," n.d.). Women’s Voices for the Earth does copious amounts of research

to make sure products are safe, and they are working to get healthy product alternatives on the

market.

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