Consumer Chemicals
What are consumer chemicals?
Consumer chemicals are products marketed directly to consumers such as household cleaning products, personal care products, cosmetics and others. These products are subject to close contact with consumers on a daily basis and can affect a large population in a short period of time.
What are their applications?
Consumer products are used in various moments of our daily lives, when using detergents and other cleaning products for household cleaning, cosmetics and personal care products such as make-up, shampoos, perfumes, deodorants, moisturizers, medication when we are ill or when using car and garden care products. They are everywhere!
What are the impacts on health?
Chemicals from consumer products can reach a large population in a short period of time as they are used daily. These products are potential sources of exposure to heavy metals, such as lead, which can be found in toys and jewelry and can cause acute poisoning in the rare case of high exposure levels. Also, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found in paints, gasoline, furniture, preserved wood and chronic exposure to it can cause impaired thyroid function, cancer, impaired immune system and reduced fertility. Additionally, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found in a wide range of cleaning products. Some health effects are eye, nose and throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and liver and kidney damage.
What are the impacts on environment?
Phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the worst environmental hazards in household cleaners. In large quantities, nitrogen, phosphorus and ammonia are water pollutants, which are flushed down drains and toilets when cleaning the house. On the other hand, the VOCs, when released into the environment and concentrated in the air inside the home, can cause health hazards. Also, when windows are opened to ventilate while cleaning, the VOCs travel outside, thus contributing to the formation of tropospheric ozone, which is the main pollutant that causes smog.