Cleaning Agents
Chemicals of concern: Ingredients may include surfactants, chemicals that enhance the effects of other compounds, alter acid-base balance, bind minerals and metals like mercury, fragrances, and disinfectants.
Affected individuals: Healthcare workers, community members living in production and disposal sites.
Harmful effects:
- Solvents may include glycol ethers, some of which cause birth defects, toxicity to testes, and damage to red blood cell
- Some solvents are toxic to the nervous system
- Surfactants such as alkylphenol ethoxylates degrade into nonylphenol, which is toxic to aquatic wildlife; ethanolamines can cause asthma
- May contain chemicals that cause cancer, reproductive disorders, respiratory ailments, eye and skin irritation, central nervous system impairment, etc.
Alternatives: Less-toxic cleaning agents are widely available used. GreenSeal, for instance, certifies cleaners with lower environmental and human health toxicity.