Do You Know these facts?
The typical American household is the number one violator of chemical waste per capita.
(Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))
The average American home has 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials. (Children's Health
Environmental Coalition)
Nationwide more than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down
the drain each day. Many of these products contain toxic substances that are not
adequately processed by sewage treatment plants and septic systems. (Maryland
Cooperative Extension)
Chemicals in household cleaners break down slowly in the ecosystem and can lead to
harmful algae blooms and accumulation of toxins in the fatty tissues of fish and wildlife.
(Clean and Green, Bond and Dadd)
In 1998, U.S. industries reported manufacturing 6.5 trillion pounds of 9,000 different
chemicals and the prevalence of many diseases and illnesses - including cancers, birth and
reproductive system defects, asthma, nervous system disorders is on the rise and
environmental factors may play a significant role in these increases. (Sustainable Futures
Group, Alexandra Rome)
The U.S. government has not conducted even basic toxicity testing for about 75 percent of
the 15,000 high volume chemicals in commercial use. More than 90 percent of these high
volume chemicals have not been tested for health effects on children. (Source: Children's
Health Environmental Coalition)
A study by the New York Poison Control Center found that 85 percent of product warning
labels they studied were inadequate.
In 1999, 2.1 million human poisonings were reported to the poison control centers in the
United States. More than 50 percent of the cases involved children under the age of five.
(American Association of Poison Control Centers)
According to a five year EPA study, the air in American homes has chemical contamination
levels 70 times greater than outdoor air.
50% of all illnesses are caused by or aggravated by polluted indoor air. (American College
of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
Approximately 15% of the American population suffers from chemical sensitivity.
Researchers have traced this proliferation to synthetic chemicals in consumer products and
furnishings. (National Academy of Sciences)
Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth
defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Women who work at home have a 55% greater chance of developing cancer than women
who spend the majority of their time outside of the home. (Toronto Indoor Air Commission)
