A clean workplace or home is a point of pride for people. It shows that we respect ourselves, others, and the work we do. What most people don’t know is that most of the cleaning products on the market end up causing harm. The chemicals found in most industrial and residential cleaners can cause serious injury and health problems in people, pollute indoor and outdoor air quality, and even contaminate our water after passing through water treatment plants. At EcoChemPro, we take health and safety seriously. In addition to making green products for industrial leaders, commercial business owners and families, we want to make sure people are informed about the harmful ingredients found in most cleaning products. Keep reading for our list of ingredients to avoid when choosing cleaning products for your home or business.
Butyl Cellosolve is found in a number of industrial and domestic cleaners. Also known as Butoxyethanol, Butyl Glycol and Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, this is a toxic, caustic chemical. Butyl causes irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and skin. Breathing its fumes can cause headaches, vomiting and blurred vision. With prolonged exposure, people may suffer liver and kidney damage, reproductive harm, pulmonary edema, and blood disorders.
VOCs are found in a number of cleaning products as solvents, especially those containing fragrance. Every day more than 7 tonnes of VOCs are released into the air by cleaning products alone. A wide number of chemicals in cleaners fall into this category, and unfortunately many companies don’t make their formulas public. They have devastating effects on air quality and many are known to cause cancer in people and animals. They also increase the risk of asthma, immune disorders, and dermatitis.
Corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes, hydrochloric acid poses a health risk to people who come in contact with it. With frightening symptoms ranging from blisters to dizziness to coughing up blood, cleaning with products that contain hydrochloric acid is extremely dangerous. It’s also corrosive to metals and can seriously damage surfaces. When these materials enter our waterways, they have a devastating impact on wildlife, as well.
Corrosive and volatile, sodium metasilicates are important to avoid in cleaning products. Not only harmful to humans and animals, when sodium metasilicate dust interacts with moist air it becomes corrosive to metals like zinc, aluminium, tin and lead, forming hydrogen gas. WIthout proper ventilation this can lead to asphyxiation. Sodium Metasilicates are also extremely reactive with acids.
Emulsifiers are found in a number of cleaning products despite their known risks. Linked to asthma and other respiratory ailments, skin irritation, and developmental and reproductive toxicity in humans, chemical emulsifiers can also harm aquatic and animal life. They can also enable oils to absorb back into concrete, rendering them ineffective.
EcoChemPro takes the safety of people, animals and the environment seriously. Our formula is free of butyl compounds, VOCS, harsh caustics and acids, and emulsifiers. No solvents or alkalis, EcoChemPro won’t damage surfaces, tools, parts or equipment. It’s non-toxic and 100% biodegradable, keeping your people and the planet safe. Effective over thousands of industrial, commercial, and residential applications, EcoChemPro is the truly green all-purpose cleaner degreaser you can count on to stay clean. Start cleaning without harm today with EcoChemPro. For more information on EcoChemPro, drop us a line.
