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How Toxic is Your Average Laundry Detergent?

Posted By Dr. Mercola | July 12 2007 | 97,364 views

Typical laundry detergents may be imparting more on your clothing than a “fresh” scent. Most contain a toxic slew of chemicals that leave residues behind on your clothing that can potentially be absorbed by your skin or evaporated into the air for you to breathe in.

Most laundry detergents in your typical grocery store contain:

Petroleum distillates (aka napthas), which have been linked to cancer
Phenols, which can cause toxicity throughout the entire body
Artificial fragrances, which have been linked to various toxic effects on fish and mammals
Phosphates, which stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced ecosystems
Optical brighteners, which can be toxic to fish and can cause bacterial mutations and allergic reactions

SixWise.com July 10, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

If you pay attention to labels, you’ll find that many household products -- from lipstick to paint to shampoo -- contain potentially toxic chemicals. In one study of 40 household products such as hair coloring, lipstick and paints, 34 contained chemicals such as glycols, organic solvents and phthalates. None of these chemicals appeared on the label of the products.

Toxins are in the household products you use, and you are absorbing them through your skin and breathing them into your lungs. When most people think of pollution, they think of the outdoors -- garbage-choked streams or industrial waste. But you probably spend a large portion of your time indoors -- as much as 80 to 90 percent of your life. You work, study, eat, drink and sleep in enclosed environments where air circulation may be restricted. For these reasons, some experts feel that more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution.

Over time, these toxins can build up in your system and cause any number of unknown effects. But you can take control of your household environment.

That is one of the reasons why you will want to make certain that you have an outstanding source of ventilation in your office and home. Fortunately, newer building standards require a minimum number of air exchanges to pass the code. This is good because indoor air pollution is frequently worse than outdoor pollution.

The other sound measure you can avoid putting toxic chemicals in your home. Most people tend to discount how dangerous some of these chemicals can be and how much chronic degenerative diseases they cause like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Instead, seek out natural laundry detergents, cleaning products and toiletries from your local health food store (or use items you already have around your house, like vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon juice), and next time you’re ready to do some housecleaning, check out these tips to do it naturally.

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

^†The World's #1 Natural Health Website claim is based upon Alexa Natural Health Website rankings.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

^†The World's #1 Natural Health Website claim is based upon Alexa Natural Health Website rankings.

If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.

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How Toxic is Your Average Laundry Detergent?

Posted By Dr. Mercola | July 12 2007 | 97,364 views

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