“A new, independent study based on 20 years of research reveals a sobering fact: Cleaning your home with national brand cleaners significantly damages lung tissue. Almost all the cleaning products that you buy at the grocery store are made with a multitude of harmful chemicals. According to the study, some of the likely culprits are ammonia, chlorine bleach, and quaternary disinfectant compounds. The study also showed that cleaning with products that contain dangerous chemicals as little as once per week was as damaging over time to respiratory health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years!”
Here is a summary of the results:
Finding 1: Using national brand cleaners as little as once per week is as damaging to lung health as smoking 20 cigarettes per day.
Finding 2: Women are affected far more than men.
Finding 3: Cleaning at home is just as, if not more harmful, than being an occupational cleaner.
Finding 4: Liquid cleaners are just as dangerous as sprays.
Finding 5: Dangerous chemical ingredients including ammonia, chlorine bleach, and quaternary disinfecting compounds appear to be primary culprits.
Finding 6: Women who regularly use cleaning products have increased rates of asthma.
Finding 7: Damage is cumulative over time.
You will find the discussion of these seven points and how the study with over 6200 people was done HERE. This LINK has media reports and the actual study for review.