Have you ever wondered why there are warning, caution and danger labels on almost every household cleaning product? Not only that, but there aren’t any ingredients listed. If cleaning products are intended to make everyday life safer, why are they so dangerous, and why isn’t the government regulating them?
Most of the conventional household cleaners are toxic chemicals. Do they clean well? Yes — a bit too well. These cleaners are able to kill almost every known bacteria, virus and infectious disease, but they can also kill us. Most cleaners are filled with toxic chemicals that are harmful for you, your family and the environment.
The reason the government doesn’t require better regulation, labeling and disclosure of ingredients is money. The EU in 1998 created a list of about 130 toxic chemicals that are not allowed to be used in cleaning products. This “black list” was recognized by most First World nations, including Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, but not the United States. The reason: lawsuits. Americans are great at suing, and for ridiculous reasons. Just think if all of a sudden the U.S. Government admitted these chemicals are toxic.
According to MSNBC, “under the terms of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which administers the act, can’t require chemical companies to prove the safety of their products unless the agency itself can show the product poses a health risk — which the EPA does not have the resources to do since, according to one estimate, it receives some 2,000 new applications for approval every year.”
I’m not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but unfortunately in this situation the government just doesn’t want to be bothered. Lobbyists are fighting daily to keep chlorine bleach at the top of every American’s grocery list, and the sheer thought of lawsuits takes it to the next level. Have you ever wondered why there are warning, caution and danger labels on almost every household cleaning product? Not only that, but there aren’t any ingredients listed. If cleaning products are intended to make everyday life safer, why are they so dangerous, and why isn’t the government regulating them?
Most of the conventional household cleaners are toxic chemicals. Do they clean well? Yes — a bit too well. These cleaners are able to kill almost every known bacteria, virus and infectious disease, but they can also kill us. Most cleaners are filled with toxic chemicals that are harmful for you, your family and the environment.
The reason the government doesn’t require better regulation, labeling and disclosure of ingredients is money. The EU in 1998 created a list of about 130 toxic chemicals that are not allowed to be used in cleaning products. This “black list” was recognized by most First World nations, including Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, but not the United States. The reason: lawsuits. Americans are great at suing, and for ridiculous reasons. Just think if all of a sudden the U.S. Government admitted these chemicals are toxic.
According to MSNBC, “under the terms of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which administers the act, can’t require chemical companies to prove the safety of their products unless the agency itself can show the product poses a health risk — which the EPA does not have the resources to do since, according to one estimate, it receives some 2,000 new applications for approval every year.”
I’m not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but unfortunately in this situation the government just doesn’t want to be bothered. Lobbyists are fighting daily to keep chlorine bleach at the top of every American’s grocery list, and the sheer thought of lawsuits takes it to the next level. 