Chemicals are more of a concern than you might think.  While cleaning chemicals you use in your daily activities are often dangerous, chemicals used to create, protect, or extend the life of products you buy aren’t always known.  Imagine you buy a new shirt that says it is made from 100% cotton — what is not mentioned are the dyes used to create the colors or preservatives to keep away mold, moths, and other problems during shipping and storage.  Running the shirt through the laundry doesn’t always remove these chemicals.  You may notice that the shirt smells “new” when you buy it — that’s because it has chemicals on it, so wearing the shirt affects what you are breathing.

If that’s not scary enough…

Other indoor air quality concerns include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.

Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in house-keeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

For general cleaning with ZERO VOCs and without dangerous chemical fumes, use RPS Degreaser.  If you need a safer and eco-friendly odor treatment, use RPS O-Max Odor Treatment.

• In the past 40 years, at least 70,000 new chemicals have been released into the environment through new consumer and industrial products and food.  Besides a few well known “bad actors”, there is virtually no regulation on the chemical industries.  They can produce anything they want, no matter how harmful it is.
• Male and female infertility are on the rise. Research is now pointing to pesticides as a viable cause.  This research is well documented by the Environmental Working Group in partnership with the Red Cross and a number of other reputable organizations.
• Women who work in the home have a 54% higher death rate than women who work out of the home. – Toronto Indoor Air Conference, 1990 — could it be, at least in part, the chemicals used to clean the home that they are breathing all day?
• Each year more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the US, costing the health care system $18 billion annually. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (inflamed nasal membranes) has increased substantially over the past 15 years.  Chemicals are becoming stronger and, therefore, their effects on people are more severe.
• Asthma ranks among the most common chronic conditions in the United States, affecting an estimated 14.9 million persons and its prevalence is increasing.
• According to the U.S Poison Control Centers, “A child is accidentally poisoned every 30 seconds and more than 50% of all poisonings occur at home with children under 5 years of age.”  Chemicals should always be handled carefully and kept out of the reach of children.
• Asthma is the #1 cause of absenteeism in schools.
• There has been a 25% increase in the last 25 years in cancer incidence among children under 15 years of age.
• ADD/ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed childhood behavior disorder today. More than two million (3-5%) children have ADD.
• Thirty years ago the 3 major childhood illnesses were chickenpox, measles and mumps. Now it is asthma, ADD and cancer.
• Brain cancer in children is up 40% in 20 years.  Could it be due in part to early exposure to chemicals?

You can find eco-friendly cleaning products here.

Here is what you need to know:

AGADIR, Morocco – Sperm whales feeding even in the most remote reaches of Earth’s oceans have built up stunningly high levels of toxic and heavy metals

This doesn’t just affect the whales.  It affects all life that comes from, lives in, or eats food from the sea — yes, even you, if you eat seafood.

A report released Thursday noted high levels of cadmium, aluminum, chromium, lead, silver, mercury and titanium in tissue samples taken by dart gun from nearly 1,000 whales over five years. From polar areas to equatorial waters, the whales ingested pollutants that may have been produced by humans thousands of miles away, the researchers said.

Stopping the pollution of our seas is one problem.  The other is how to remove the pollution that is already there.

What you need is an eco-friendly heavy metal stabilizer.

AMMONIA: is a very volatile chemical and is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.  RPS Degreaser is an eco-friendly alternative to ammonia for (glass cleaning is different).

BLEACH: is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. Never mix bleach with acid toilet bowl cleaners or ammonia. These mixtures may produce fumes which can be DEADLY.  RPS Degreaser is an eco-friendly alternative to bleach.  RPS Mold and Mildew Deep Stain remover is an eco-friendly alternative to bleach for mold and mildew problems.

CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself; they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include perchlorethylene, a known carcinogen that damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage; and ammonium hydroxide, a corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.  RPS Carpet Cleaner is an eco-friendly and safer alternative to carpet cleaners.

CHLORINE: The first agent of chemical warfare was chlorine. WWII ended with an abundance of this cheap chemical. In the name of huge profits, it was added to our water supply and many other products. Chlorine is the number one cause of breast cancer and can be lethal. Scientists won’t handle chlorine without protective gloves, facemasks, and ventilation, yet it is in most store-brand cleaners, including dishwasher detergents. The harmful effects are intensified when the fumes are heated, as in the shower. It is in our drinking water, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, and more.  RPS Degreaser is an eco-friendly and safer alternative to cleaning products with chlorine.

OVEN CLEANER: one of the most toxic products people use. They contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin, and the fumes linger and affect the respiratory system. Then there ís the residue that ís intensified the next time you turn your oven on.  RPS Degreaser is a safe alternative to commercial oven cleaners.

To give you an idea, these are some of the traits of chemicals labeled as “bad actors”:

• Toxic or poisonous;
• Causes cancer;
• Changes genetic material;
• Interferes with normal reproduction;
• Disrupts the endocrine system (synthetic hormones);
• Causes serious eye damage;
• Causes hyper-reaction in the airways;
• Causes skin rashes or irritations;
• Accumulates in the body;
• Affects fish and other aquatic organisms;
• Depletes the ozone layer.

Here are 16 dangerous chemicals you need to know.  Check the labels on your household products for…

1. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a tissue fixative and embalming agent used to temporarily preserve human and animal remains.  It is also found in topical creams, cosmetics and personal hygiene products, among other places like construction materials, pill capsules, and others.

2. Phthalates

Mainly used to increase flexibility, transparency, and durability of plastics, phthalates are being phased out of many products in the United States, Canada, and European Union over health concerns.

3. Toluene

Toluene, also known as toluol, is a clear liquid that does not dissolve in water and smells like paint thinner. Since it can not be dissolved in water, it can not leave the body through normal excretion of urine, feces, or sweat and must be metabolized.

4. Bisphenol-A

Commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound and a building block of several important plastics and plastic additives.  Bisphenol-A has also been linked to miscarriages, developmental problems, cancer, weight gain, increased likelihood of drug abuse, as well as a host of neurological issues, thyroid problems, and reproductive dysfunctions.

5. Lead

Lead is a heavy metal and potent neurotoxin that accumulates in soft tissues and bone over time. Lead poisoning was documented in ancient Rome, ancient Greece, and ancient China.

6. Polybrominated flame retardants

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE, are often used as flame retardants.  PBDEs have been used in a wide array of products, including building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles, airplanes, plastics, polyurethane foams, and textiles.  Studies have found significant concentrations of PBDEs in common foods such as salmon, ground beef, butter, and cheese.  PBDEs have also been found at high levels in indoor dust, sewage sludge, and effluents from wastewater treatment plants. PBDEs have been shown to reduce fertility in humans at levels found in households.  (It’s in just about everything you own, by the way.)

You should also be careful of their cousins made with chlorene called polychlorinated diphenyl ethers or (PCDE’s).

7. Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon (think chlorine and oil) commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is a clear non-flammable liquid with a sweet smell.

The proper chemical term is trichloroethene, but you may see it abbreviated as TCE, trichlor, Trike, Tricky and tri. It has also been sold under a variety of trade names. Under the trade names Trimar and Trilene, trichloroethylene was used as an anesthetic and as an inhaled by millions of patients.

Trichloroethylene has almost instant depressive effects on the central nervous system (which is why it was used as an anesthetic) and has been linked to cancer, heart conditions, and numerous other deadly medical problems.

8. Perchlorates

Perchlorates are the salts derived from perchloric acid.  It has been shown that in healthy adults, just 0.007 milligrams per kilogram per day (mg/(kg·d)), perchlorate can temporarily inhibit the thyroid gland’s ability to absorb iodine from the bloodstream.  The recommended “safe” dose and the groundwater standard is 1/10th (0.0007 milligrams per kilogram per day).

9. Methyl Iodide

Used as a fungicide, herbicide, insecticide or nematicide, soil decontamination agent, and as a fire extinguisher, breathing methyl iodide fumes can cause lung, liver, kidney and central nervous system damage. It causes nausea, dizziness, coughing and vomiting. Prolonged contact with skin causes burns. Massive inhalation causes pulmonary edema (swelling of the organs and tissues that help you breathe).

10. Mercury

Yes, the stuff in your old thermometer.  Traditionally, mercury has been used as a diuretic, topical disinfectant, and laxative.  It is still used today in dentistry (amalgam fillings).  Mercury compounds are found in some over-the-counter drugs, including topical antiseptics, stimulant laxatives, diaper-rash ointment, eye drops, and nasal sprays.  Mercury, as thiomersal, is widely used in the manufacture of mascara.  Due to the health effects, there are heavy restrictions on some uses and total bans on other uses of mercury in the United States, European Union, and other countries.

11. Hexavalent Chromium

Yep.  It’s the stuff from the movie Erin Brockovich.

Hexavalent chromium is used for the production of stainless steel, textile dyes, wood preservation, leather tanning, and as anti-corrosion and conversion coatings as well as a variety of other uses. Hexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen and commonly found in welding applications.

12. Hydrofluoric Acid

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water.   It is extremely dangerous to handle.  If you get it on only 25 square inches (160 cm²), it may be relatively painless, yet ultimately fatal.

13. N-methyl Pyrrolidone

Used as a solvent or co-solvent for the formulation of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, it has been identified as a reproductive toxicant by California in 2001 and then by the European Commission in 2003.  Worker exposure is difficult to control in situations such as in paint stripping, graffiti removal, and agriculture.

14. Perfluorinated Compounds

There are many PFCs, but the two most studied compounds are:

• PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid, used to make fluoropolymers such as Teflon, among other applications.
• PFOS or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, used in the semiconductor industry, 3M’s former Scotchgard formulation, and 3M’s former fire-fighting foam mixture.

Some fluorosurfactants have caught the attention of regulatory agencies because of their persistence, toxicity, and widespread occurrence in the blood of general populations and wildlife.

15. Perchloroethylene

Usually as a mixture with other chlorocarbons, it is also used to degrease metal parts in the automotive and other metalworking industries. It appears in a few consumer products including paint strippers and spot removers.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified tetrachloroethene as a Group 2A carcinogen.  It has been estimated that about 85% of tetrachloroethylene is released into the atmosphere; OECD models assumed 90% release into the air and 10% to water.

16. Triclosan

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is a polychloro phenoxy phenol. It is used in many consumer products and is commonly found in toothpaste to prevent gingivitis.  Triclosan safety is currently under review by the FDA.

Reports have suggested that triclosan can combine with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform gas and to produce lesser amounts of other compounds, like 2,4-dichlorophenol.  Most of these intermediates convert into dioxins upon exposure to UV radiation (from the sun or other sources). Although small amounts of dioxins are produced, there is a great deal of concern over this effect, because some dioxins are extremely toxic and are very potent endocrine disruptors. They are also chemically very stable, so that they are eliminated from the body very slowly (they can bioaccumulate to dangerous levels), and they persist in the environment for a very long time.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Make no mistake — these chemicals have deadly serious health impacts on people of any age, ethnicity, or net worth.

Childhood cancers have increased 20 percent since 1975, and autism now is so prevalent that it is diagnosed in almost 1% of children today.  That’s 1 in every 100 children are likely to be diagnosed with autism.  This is serious, folks.

Get away from these dangerous chemicals with safe cleaning products available here.

According to a 2006 study by the University of California Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ethylene-based glycol, used commonly as a water-soluble solvent in cleaning agents and classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Terpenes, a class of chemicals found in lemon, pine and orange oils can morph into carcinogenic compounds when they mix with ground-level ozone.

Also, chlorine, often labeled as “sodium hypochlorite” or “hypochlorite,” is almost ubiquitous in household cleaners.   Breathing in its fumes can irritate the lungs, and poses a serious health risk to those with heart or respiratory issues.

According to the non-profit Cancer Prevention Coalition, some other problematic chemicals found in many household cleaners include butyl cellosolve, which has been linked to kidney and liver problems and is reportedly toxic to forming cells.

Mostly household cleaners are filled with petrochemical solvents designed to dissolve dirt.  No law requires cleaning product manufacturers to list ingredients on their labels or to even test their products for safety.  They leave it up to consumers to make sure their homes are not only clean, but also non-toxic.

A much easier way to ensure that your cleaning products contain no toxic, dangerous, harsh chemicals is to use eco-friendly cleaning products from RPS Environmental Solutions, LP.  Eco-friendly, healthy cleaning products are available here for commercial, industrial, and household use.

Volatile Organic Compounds, more commonly referred to as VOCs, come from many sources.  In the context of sick building syndrome, the highest concentration of VOCs are in newly constructed offices where fumes from construction materials and processes are prevalent.  Older offices are also known to have higher than the recommended amounts of VOCs that often come from new furniture, new wall coverings, and office equipments like printers and copy machines.

One of the worst sources of Volatile Organic Compounds is the fumes from dangerous cleaning chemicals in the air.

Febreze

While television advertisements try to sell you on smothering yourself in pillows covered with Febreze and dousing your home from top to bottom, you might want to think twice after reading their MSDS sheet:

• Possible mild gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
• Inhalation of high concentrations of ethanol vapor may cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, drowsiness, and fatigue.
• Use chemical goggles and protective gloves (rubber, neoprene) during spill clean-up.

Febreze’s main active ingredient is Cyclodextrin, which binds or entraps various hydrophobic compounds that cause odors. (Wikipedia). It does not actually clean your fabrics at all, it just traps odors for a while.

Most standard cleaning products range from mildly hazardous to extremely hazardous, but most consumers don’t even bother to read the warning labels or ingredients.

The true smell of clean is no smell at all.  That’s the mantra of RPS Environmental and their eco-friendly cleaning products with zero VOCs, no perfumes, no dyes, no harsh chemicals, no bleach, no ammonia, and even feature the Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) seal.

Hydrocarbons come in a variety of forms. They may be gases (methane and propane), liquids (hexane and benzene), waxes (paraffin wax), or polymers (polyethylene and polystyrene). Hydrocarbons can be processed to create plastics.

Our Hydrocarbon Stabilizer is usually used to remediate crude oil spills, gasoline spill cleanup jobs, and other fuel spills like diesel spill cleanup, aviation fuel (high octane gasoline for piston powered planes) or jet fuel spills (basically kerosene) and other fuel oils.

The photos below are from our cleanup of a 300 gallon diesel fuel spill on gravel.  We applied a top spray application several hours after the spill occurred and the result image is from 24 hours later.

Diesel on gravel BEFORE

Diesel spill on gravel AFTER

If you are interested in the technical analysis of the hydrocarbon remediation abilities of our Hydrocarbon Stabilizer product, please visit our corporate site at RPSenvironmental.com and click the contact tab for the office phone number or to send us an email.