Asthma and Toxic Domestic Cleaning Products
Growing Evidence
A growing body of evidence suggests a clear correlation between use of toxic cleaning products in the home and the development of asthma in children.
It has long been known that children who grow up without exposure to bacteria tend to have weaker immune systems. However, it has been difficult to establish whether the cleaning agents used to kill bacteria themselves play a direct role in increasing the likelihood of developing asthma, as a range of others factors can influence its onset (e.g. family history, parents who smoke, or the dampness of the home). However, studies are now emerging which have been able to take all of these factors into account and to establish the link definitively.
Recent Research
Most famous and comprehensive is the ALPSAC “Children of the 90s” study, based at the University of Bristol, UK, which surveyed 14,000 pregnant women in 1991–2 and has followed most of them and their children ever since. In one strand of their research, they tracked mothers’ use of household chemicals while they were pregnant and when their children were young. They established that early life exposure to the chemicals contained in household cleaning products produces a 40% increased risk of developing asthma by the age of seven. In the 10% of families who use the chemicals most frequently, the children were twice as likely to suffer wheezing problems as the families where they were used least.
Although it recorded what products the mothers used, the study did not determine the effects of specific chemicals. However, some other recent studies have given a greater insight into this question. A 2008 pan-European study has established, for instance, that those adults who use cleaning sprays at least once per week are 50 percent more likely to have increased asthma symptoms, wheeze, or asthma medication use, within nine years, than those who used such sprays less frequently. The strongest association was found with air fresheners, glass cleaners and furniture-cleaning sprays, which contain VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. These results have been confirmed for children by a recent Australian study, which found that the strongest correlation with increased incidence of asthma among children, among domestic cleaning products, lay with use of VOCs.
Larger Issues
However, as the NHS, in the UK, indicates, many other household cleaning products are also highly toxic and can cause various forms of irritation to skin, eyes and lungs. Indeed, Canadian research has suggested that some cleaning agent ingredients such as denatured ethanol (methylated spirits to you and me) can damage the nervous system. Children are particularly vulnerable to such effects because their lungs, other organs and nervous system, are still developing in interaction with their environment.
Many of these chemicals are used industrially at higher concentrations, where their impact on workers has been tested and frequently exposed as highly damaging over time. However, little or no testing has been done on their impact at the lower concentrations found in household products. And more than 1000 new chemicals are introduced every year, whose long-term effects are almost entirely unknown.
This growing body of evidence makes a strong case for seeking out non-toxic domestic cleaning products which will protect children from asthma and other illnesses.
The EU — The Polluter Pays
The EU Water Framework Directive
In 2000, the European Union issued its Water Framework Directive (WFD). This directive called for a more holistic approach to how water quality and levels of water pollution are assessed. It placed the focus on river basins, because this is where most cities, towns, industries and agricultural activities are centred, and because rivers are a primary source of water for domestic and other uses. (It also takes other water systems into account.) The WFD directed that, in future, water quality and water pollution must be assessed, not simply by water testing against a given standard, but by examining the impact of human activity upon the ecosystem of a river basin or water system as a whole. The impact on animal and plant life, changes in water chemistry and in hydromorphology, will determine whether a water system is judged to have good quality water.
This move raises the bar for water quality testing, challenging any temptation to set standards that might be more easily met, but which would have an environmental cost. Every EU country must achieve a ‘good’ status in all of their significant river basins and water systems by 2015. To see where Ireland stands in relation to these standards, see our blog post Water Quality in Ireland.
The Polluter Pays
Another significant, related directive of the WFD is that the polluter pays principle should inform not only policy around major pollution incidents, but water supply and waste water charges as well. This has far-reaching implications. The polluter pays principle says that industries, businesses and agriculture must pay for the cost of water supplies and also for any waste water treatment of the run-off from their plants, premises or farms. All such costs associated with maintaining water quality are to be built into users’ water charges.
However, almost every human use of water pollutes it. Domestic washing, cleaning, toilet and sewer systems, all add dirt, waste and chemicals to the water we use. And so the polluter pays principle applies to domestic water usage too. Under the WFD, domestic users will pay for the water they use and also for the post-use treatment of that water. This is already the case in the UK, where domestic users can pay as much for the quantity of waste water they allow flow into the sewers as for the water they draw from the water supply in the first place. (Waste water is also metered). The challenge for households will be to minimise water use and to minimise their pollution of that water.
Water Charges
The WFD does not allow governments to profit from water charges, but the directive recommends two policies which will push water charges upward. First, governments are directed to price water at a sufficiently high level so as that users will be motivated to reduce their water usage. (Higher water charges, together with more water-efficient technologies, have been an important factor in falling domestic water usage in many European countries.) Second, governments are encouraged to take a long-term economic view. In principle, this means that prices might fall due to anticipated falling costs of supplying water in the future. In practice, it is more likely to mean that governments will factor into current prices anticipated future increases in the cost of maintaining an adequate water supply due to higher demand, increased industrial activity, the need to replace or upgrade infrastructure, or more exacting environmental standards, etc.
The Challenges Ahead
In 2007, the Irish Government enacted the Water Services Act, which goes some way toward meeting the requirements of the EU directive, though many of the Act’s provisions remain to be fully implemented. As they are implemented, the challenge for households and businesses will be
- to reduce water use through elimination of water wastage
- to reduce water use through water-efficient practices and equipment
- to minimise contamination of water used
- to re-use grey-water appropriately
- to collect and use rainwater appropriately
GreenValet’s waterless car cleaning & valeting products and domestic cleaning products offer households significant ways of reducing their water usage.
For car valeting businesses and the auto industry, GreenValet’s Complete Car Cleaning & Valeting Solution offers a 100% non-toxic waterless system and a water-based system, which will reduce water use significantly and which is 100% non-toxic.
See our Top 10 Water Saving Tips.
GreenValet Waterless Car Care Products – A Guide
Car Cleaning Basics
Our core car cleaning and car wax product for home use is the GV Beyond Kleen ‘Waterless Technology’. This product is lightly sprayed onto all reflective surfaces (the paintwork, glass and mirrors), and left for 60 seconds. It is then wiped off and the surface polished with one of our microfibre cloths. GV Beyond Kleen ‘Waterless Technology’ will leave your car immaculately clean and will produce a showroom shine every time.
It is available in a 750ml spray bottle and a 5 litre drum. Additional GV 750 ml Spray Bottles are also available.
Our microfibre cloths absorb a phenomenal amount of dirt and contaminants, and they are ideal for polishing paintwork as they will not cause scratches. They are also durable – they can be washed (in a washing machine) up to 300 times. The High Quality Wonder Waffle Cloth is recommended for use with GV Beyond Kleen ‘Waterless Technology’. Our range also includes High Quality Microfibre Terry Cloths and special microfibre cloths for glass and mirrors.
Tar Removal
GV De-Tar/Adhesive Remover is our powerful, non-toxic product to remove tar from paintwork. No need for masks or gloves. Simply spray on, leave a few minutes and gently rub with a cloth – watch the tar slide off. Available in 500ml and 5 litre sizes.
HomeValet
GV Bio Kleen Sanitiser is our core product for cleaning the interior of your car. It comes in concentrate form. Once diluted (10 to 1), it is sprayed lightly onto surfaces and wiped off with a damp microfibre cloth. It leaves the surface immaculately clean and completely sanitised. It is 100% non-toxic, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal and HSE recommended. It is especially recommended where asthma, allergies and chemical allergies are a concern. GV Bio Kleen Sanitiser is completely child friendly and pet friendly. It is also ideal for domestic cleaning. This concentrate product comes in 1 litre and 5 litre sizes.
For tougher cleaning, we have the phenomenal GV Bio Kleen Heavy Duty DeGreaser. Again, it comes in concentrate form and is used in a similar manner to the GV Bio Kleen Sanitiser. It is 100% non-toxic and so child friendly and pet friendly. It also comes HSE recommended.
The NoWet Range
NoWet is a high-end waterless car care product range, containing 17 major active ingredients and the finest Carnauba wax, Kaolin clay and polishing agents. NoWet Deep Cleaning comes in 200ml, quart, gallon, pail/drum sizes. Also available is NoWet Tyre Shine.
Please follow the detailed instructions for use for each product on individual product pages.
GreenValet Waterless Car Wash Technology
Washing a car with water alone does not do much good, because most dirt and grease is not soluble in water. Even power washes need a cleaning agent which can break down dirt and which is partly soluble in water, so that dirt can be literally washed away from the surface. The problem is that most cleaning agents need strong chemicals to break down the dirt and they can have corrosive or abrasive effects on paintwork. They also can cause significant pollution via the water run-off into drains. And because even these strong chemicals are far from perfect at breaking down dirt, a lot of water and a relatively large amount of chemicals are needed to complete the job. These side-effects of washing our cars are becoming less and less desirable, as we try to conserve water and ensure it is free from pollution. And they will soon become expensive with the arrival of water metering and new regulations about water run-off.
What’s the solution? At GreenValet, we believe it lies in clean technology that needs neither chemicals nor large quantities of water to clean cars. Our car wash products are based on a nanotechnology that achieves both of these goals. Our solution solves many industry challenges. The system can be used in a waterless capacity if required (with no trade off in performance or results) or in an existing water system or a mixture of both. The very least it will do is transform your business to a 100% non toxic system overnight.
Our system comes in a water solution. A light spray of the solution over the surface of your car provides enough product to lift the dirt from your car and enough water to allow you to wipe it away. You don’t need excessive water. In fact water causes problems. Valeters (particularly in Car Dealerships) know all about water. Even if the car is dried off, rogue droplets still drip off ruining the nice finish on the car. Water is very viscous – it runs all over the surface area and often only moves dirt from one area to another. You can’t see the flaws until the area is dry. Then you see where all the dirt dries in and you have to re-clean and polish the area. You can avoid all that process using the GreenValet system.
Most important of all, our car wash technology works for waterless applications & water based applications or a mixture of both. Whatever suits your particular requirements. Whatever you need to use, our system is non-toxic & exceedingly effective. But don’t take our word for it; why not try our Car Care Service wash at our Mallow or Midleton locations. Or why not try some of our car care products for home use, available at our online shop.
GreenValet has car wash water & waterless systems that works for today’s challenges. And with no chemicals, no corrosion, no abrasion, and no water (well, just a very little!)
Car Wash Essentials
Welcome to GreenValet Blog. Please post your thoughts, tip & opinions or advice on Car Care. We welcome all comments but be warned we are 100% non toxic cleaners. We are also almost completely waterless and ‘yes’ our system works. Lots of people think that it dosent or can’t work but we have spent two years developing and perfecting our system so that it is pretty faultless. We have spent years researching product, car care products, most of which could be called car stripping products due to their highly toxic nature, solvent & silicone content which is damaging to you the car and the environment. So believe it when we say, we can do it. Not only do we say it, we ‘do’ it every day. We clean & polish cars to a showroom shine on two (there will be more) GreenValet sites in Mallow & Midleton (Tesco). Customers love it. They are amazed by the results and amazed by the speed at which we can do it. All safe, clean & waterless. Even Tar removal has been revolutionised!
We are here to answer any questions on the new system. We understand it is new, a break from traditional thinking & cleaning but it has the potential to revolutionalise the cleaning sector in general. It proves that you don’t need excessive use of water to clean. In fact, water can cause alot of issues in cleaning. Anyhow, we are here to help, educate and debate. All opinions (respectful please) welcome.
Looking forward to all your Car Washers & Valeters out there looking for alternatives.….
The VALETMASTER Continue reading