PHOSPHATES - used as water softeners and to improve cleaning, they can stimulate excessive growth of algae in waters in such a way that water becomes starved of oxygen, killing fish and plant life.

EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) - an alternative to phosphates to reduce water hardness, it stabilizes the bleach and foaming agents in detergent products, preventing them from becoming active before immersed in water. While the health effects of some chemicals, e.g. headaches and skin rashes, are direct, others are indirect. EDTA, for example, can be irritating to the skin but also binds with toxic chemicals - known carcinogens such as lead and mercury - in the environment and remobilizes them carrying them back in our drinking water supplies and food, especially fish and shellfish.

BLEACH - liquid and vapors are irritating to the skin, eyes, nose and throat. Skin splashes can cause dermatitis and ingestion cause stomach irritation, prolonged nausea and vomiting.

OPTICAL BRIGHTENERS - used in laundry products, they remain on the surface of the cloth to create an optical illusion of whiteness. Optical brighteners can cause skin sensitization and allergic reactions and they are also extremely difficult to biodegrade.

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES - several thousand different chemicals are used in fragrance manufacture; 95 per cent of these are derived from petroleum. Of the less than 20 per cent that have actually been tested for safety, most have been found to be toxic to humans. These include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.

CONSEQUENCES TO HUMANS

• Constant tiredness, chronic fatigue syndrome
• Auto-immune diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis
• Respiratory problems such as asthma or chronic bronchitis
• Sinusitis or hay fever
• Frequent colds, or susceptibility to flu
• Watery itchy eyes or eyes that produce excess mucous
• Skin problems such as dermatitis or eczema
• Regular headaches or migraines
• Mental symptoms such as depression
  
• Menstrual problems such as PMS, irregular periods
  
• Parasitic infestations
  
• Overweight or underweight

No one is suggesting that chemical overload is the sole cause of such problems but it cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor. What is more, diseases that do not seem to respond to conventional treatment often do respond once the environment and the body are cleared of toxins.

About Petroleum derived additive

Most conventional household cleaners contain petroleum derived additives and detergents. These often break down incompletely and contain toxic impurities that are highly irritant and may cause allergic reactions. They are also a threat to plant and animal life.

About Bacteria

Many products claim to be antibacterial, but in fact bacteria is programmed to survive; spraying with harsh antibacterial agent will make them stronger, not weaker. On the other hand the bacteria we encounter in our homes are unlikely to pose threat to health: even babies and young children have built up immunity to them. The usage of antibacterial agents and it's effects can be seen in hospitals, where food-borne diseases and anti-biotic resistant superbugs are a threat to health.