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Important Info on Chemicals and Toxins in Household Products

December 3, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Consider this. There have been 85,000 new chemicals invented in the world since World War II. Of these, about 3,000 are produced in quantities over 1 million pounds per year.

Of those largely produced chemicals that are used in foods, cleaning supplies, pesticides, water, and air, only 43 percent have been tested for toxicity.

Only 10 percent have ever been tested with fetuses and children in mind.

While we possibly can live longer through modern medicine, we may die young and suffer because of modern chemical “miracles.” Production, use and disposal of these materials poisons us three times- people are harmed, the environment is harmed, and generations from now our great-grandchildren are harmed because our waste won’t decompose.

Some products list ingredients that sound awful but really aren’t, while other products contain all kinds of carcinogens.

The following is a defined list of non-harmful cleaning ingredients. This list can also provide you with the knowledge to replicate some store-bought cleaners yourself.

Acetic acid: 3-5 percent solution of vinegar
Alum: in recipes a spice not frequently used anymore except in pickling, as a chemical it is aluminum powder, sulfate, carbonate, etc.
Ammonium carbonate: baker’s ammonia or smelling salts
Amylacetate: banana oil.
Arabic gum powder: acacia vera.
Arrowroot: herb, powder substitute for cornstarch, tapioca starch, and rice starch or flour.
Ascorbic acid: vitamin C.
Bicarbonate of soda: baking soda.
Calcium carbonate: chalk or agricultural lime
Calcium hydroxide: slaked or slacked lime
Calcium oxide: unslaked quicklime
Calcium sulfate: plaster of Paris
Citric acid: derived acidic fruits
Furfuraldehyde: bran oil
Glucose: corn syrup
Glycerin: by-product of the saponification of vegetable oil or animal fats
Graphite: pencil lead
Hydrogen peroxide: peroxide
Iodine: tincture of iodine (4%)
Isopropyl alcohol: rubbing alcohol 70-90 percent
Lye: made from ashes
Magnesium hydroxide: milk of magnesia
Magnesium silicate: talc
Magnesium sulfate: Epsom salt
Methyl salicylate: wintergreen oil, sweet birch oil, or teaberry oil
Potassium bitartrate: cream of tartar, pearl ash, salt of wormwood
Potassium carbonate: potash
Potassium chloride: potash muriate
Silica/Silicon dioxide: sand
Sodium chloride: table salt
Sodium hypochlorite: bleach
Sucrose: cane sugar
Talc: talcum powder, alternative is arrowroot powder
Tincture of iodine: 47 percent alcohol, 4percent iodine
Whiting: chalk mixed with linseed oil to form putty, add water and other things to make whitewash.

Article adapted from Mother Earth News.

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