Are Conventional Cleaning Products Harmful to my Baby?
The short answer is yes. Depending on the product, however, it’s possible that the impacts won’t be immediate and can affect health over a long period of time. For example, hormone and endocrine disruption can show up in teenage years and go undiagnosed until certain symptoms show up.
It’s important to learn what ingredients are harmful so you can steer clear of certain ingredients. As well as find brands that you can trust, that don't greenwash their products. Chances are, if the ingredient list is long and complex, there might be something in it that’s harmful to your baby’s health.
Overall, chemical cleaners can cause serious side effects, such as burns, respiratory issues, hormone disruption, skin irritation, allergies, asthma, poisoning, and in severe cases, death. Using chemical cleaners greatly contributes to indoor air pollution.
Current laws do not provide the FDA with the authority to require disclosure or public safety of fragrance ingredients. In the U.S., companies are required to list ingredients on the label; however, this regulation excludes the individual constituents of fragrance in order to preserve fragrance trade secrets. This sustains a loophole that leads to disclosure gaps.
Vulnerable populations for exposure to “conventional” products are babies, toddlers, children, pregnant women, and elderly. Chemical cleaners are a common source of poisoning and 89% of poison exposure occurs at home.
Studies have shown that using a household cleaning spray, even as little as once a week, raises the risk of developing asthma. Using green cleaning products can reduce the chances of developing asthma, which is the most common chronic illness and the leading cause of school absences across the country.
There’s extensive research that toxic ingredients not only can create direct toxic exposure to babies and toddlers, this also can occur in the womb and through breast milk. Prioritize safe, clean ingredients over conventional products when possible.
FRAGRANCES (NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC)
Many people don’t know this, but the word “fragrance” on the list of ingredients of cleaning & beauty products can include over 3,059 materials that are harmful to our health and the overall environment.
Fragrance is defined by the FDA as a combination of chemicals that gives each perfume or cologne (including those used in other products) its distinct scent. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) lists 3,059 materials that are reported as being used in fragrance compounds. Of these 3,059 ingredients, some have evidence linking them to health effects including cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies, and sensitivities.
A 2016 study assessed self-reported health effects from fragrance. This survey of a random sample of US residents found that 99.1% of participants are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week from their own use, others’ use, or both. Participants also reported an extensive list of health effects experienced when exposed to fragrance ranging from migraines and asthma to gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular problems. The findings showed that a high percentage of the participants did not know of the chemicals included in fragrance and would not continue to use a fragranced product if they had previously known it emitted pollutants.
Unsafe Ingredients to Watch Out For…
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyde adversely affects kidneys and the reproductive, nervous, and respiratory systems. This chemical is suspected to cause cancer in California’s Proposition 65. Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Program classify acetaldehyde as potentially carcinogenic to humans.
Ammonia
High levels can irritate and burn the skin, mouth, throat, lungs, and eyes. Very high levels of ammonia can damage the lungs or cause death.
Benzophenone
Linked to endocrine disruption and organ system toxicity. Experimental studies suggest benzophenone may lead to several kinds of tumors. Derivatives of benzophenone, such as benzophenone-1 (BP-1) and oxybenzone (BP-3), are potential endocrine disruptors. Benzophenone is listed as a possible human carcinogen under California’s Proposition 65.
Benzyl Salicylate
Is a fragrance allergen and a potential endocrine disruptor. The European Union restricts its use and requires that it’s listed on product labels.
Butoxyethanol
A skin, eye, nose, and throat irritant. Exposure can lead to blood in the urine, vomiting and nausea with long-term damage to the kidneys, liver, lymphoid system, nervous system, respiratory system and blood cells. Butoxyethanol is also a reproductive toxicant. The International Agency for Research on Cancer confirms the carcinogenicity of butoxyethanol in experimental animals. Both the European Union and Canada restrict butoxyethanol in consumer products.
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Studies demonstrating BHA’s potential to disrupt endocrine functioning led the European Commission on Endocrine Disruption to list BHA as a Category 1 priority substance. This chemical is also listed as a carcinogen on California’s Proposition 65.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
BHT irritates the eyes and skin and may adversely affect one’s growth rate and liver. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has determined that there is moderate evidence that BHT is a human respiratory irritant.
Butylphenyl methylpropional
Also known by its brand name Lilial, butylphenyl methylpropionale is a scent chemical restricted in the European Union. Its potential for dermal sensitization motivated the International Fragrance Association to also restrict its use in fragrance products.
Chloromethane (methyl chloride)
Chloromethane can have both acute and chronic effects on the nervous system and also adversely impacts the liver, kidneys, and skin. It is listed under California’s Proposition 65 as a developmental toxicant.
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
Dichloromethane is linked to mammary gland tumors in experimental animals and may be an occupational carcinogen. It is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen according to the National Toxicology Program and possibly carcinogenic to humans according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Its use in fragrance products is restricted by the European Commission and prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
DEP is an irritant of eyes, skin, and the respiratory tract. It is a potential endocrine disruptor and has been linked to reproductive and nervous system toxicity.
Essential Oil Mixtures
Despite being fragrance ingredients of ‘natural origin,’ some essential oils are allergens and their allergenicity is no different than synthetic fragrance ingredients. The International Fragrance Agency restricts citrus oils and other plant-derived organic chemicals containing essential oils due to their phototoxic effects. Essential oils may contain ingredients such as pulegone or methyleugenol that may be carcinogenic and alter endocrine functioning.
Ensure all essential oils are organic and come from clean sources. When essential oils are diluted properly, they can have therapeutic impacts.
Eugenyl methyl ether (Methyleugenol)
It can affect multiple endocrine systems and induce mammary gland tumors in experimental animals. Methyluegenol is a naturally occurring substance used in essential oils. It is a possible human carcinogen according to California’s Proposition 65, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Formaldehyde
Authoritative entities on chemical hazards agree that formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. It is banned in cosmetics and toiletries in Japan and Sweden while the European Union and Canada restricts its use. California’s Proposition 65 states that in its gas form, formaldehyde is a probable carcinogen. In occupational settings, formaldehyde is a cancer hazard and immune system sensitizer.
Glutaraldehyde
Exposure may cause throat and lung irritation, asthma and difficulty breathing, dermatitis, nasal irritation, sneezing, wheezing, burning eyes, and conjunctivitis.
MEA, DEA, TEA – ethanolamines
When ethanolamines are used in the same product as certain preservatives that break down into nitrogen, they can form nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are a class of more than a dozen different chemicals, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer lists each of these as possible and known carcinogens. The National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens lists 15 individual nitrosamines as reasonably anticipated human carcinogens.
Methanol
Methanol is a developmental toxicant according to California’s Proposition 65, and the European Union has concentration restrictions of methanol in cosmetics.
Nitrogen
is often used in aerosol sprays. Nitrogen is safe to breath only if it is mixed with an appropriate amount of oxygen. Additional nitrogen (lower oxygen) cannot be detected by the sense of smell.
Oxybenzone (BP-3)
This UV-filter is a derivative of benzophenone and a potential endocrine disruptor. Oxybenzone can accumulate in the blood, kidneys, liver, and may be toxic to liver cells. The European Union restricts oxybenzone at up to 10 percent maximum concentration in cosmetics.
Propyl paraben (Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate)
Propyl paraben is a possible endocrine disruptor. Denmark banned propyl paraben and other paraben forms in cosmetic products for children up to 3 years old, which then motivated the European Commission to implement restrictions reducing the concentrations of propyl paraben in cosmetic products.
Resorcinol
Resorcinol changes liver, kidney and spleen functioning and adversely affects the cardiovascular and nervous system. The European Commission lists this chemical as a Category 1 endocrine disruptor, and the European Union restricts concentrations and requires labeling of products that contain these chemicals. In Japan, the form Resorcin is banned in all types of cosmetics.
Styrene
Styrene can be toxic to red blood cells and the liver when taken orally and toxic to the central nervous system when inhaled. It is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen and is a Category 1 endocrine disruptor in living organisms according to the European Commission.
Synthetic musks (Tonalide , Galaxolide, Musk Ketone, Musk Xylene)
These chemicals are used in fragrances and added to personal care products. Synthetic musks are highly bioaccumulative and have been detected in breast milk, body fat, and the cord blood of newborn babies. Studies show that these compounds may disrupt hormone systems and may be reproductive, development, and organ system toxicants.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2)
Inhalation exposure can damage lungs and the respitory system. TiO2 may be an occupational carcinogen and is listed as carcinogenic on California’s Proposition 65. The International Agency for Research on Cancer also lists this chemical as a possible human carcinogen.
Triclosan
Triclosan and triclocarban are commonly used antimicrobial agents found in many soaps and detergents. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified triclosan in the urine of 75 percent people tested.
For more in depth descriptions of unsafe ingredients, CSC (campaign for safe cosmetics) has a thorough breakdown of these ingredients.
Safe Ingredient Checklist
✅ Check ingredients to see if the products are low in VOCs and use renewable resources.
✅ Read labels and avoid products when no information is given other than “fragrance”.
✅ Labeling with full disclosure of all active and inactive ingredients, phosphate-free, natural fragrances, free of dyes, hypochlorite, and chlorine.
✅ Seek out small brands that prioritize natural, non-toxic ingredients and look for certifications from larger brands.
