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Research suggests that certain chemicals in some household cleaning products may be hazardous to our health. This is of particular concern to women and children.

Recent studies point to a link between certain chemicals in some cleaning products and asthma and reproductive harm. That means that children, pregnant women, women trying to get pregnant, and persons with asthma are especially vulnerable to these chemicals.

Did you know . . .

…Women today are still doing over 70% of the housework in the average home.

…The cleaning industry in the U.S. employs about 3.4 million cleaning workers. Of those, women comprise nearly 90% of maids and housekeeping cleaners.

…Children are often more vulnerable to chemicals because their organs and immune systems are not yet fully developed, and certain chemicals may interfere with the development of their neurological, endocrine and immune systems.

Many household cleaners contain chemicals, some of which are toxic. These chemicals may cause short-term health problems like skin and eye irritation when you use them and they may have long-term health impacts as well.

Some chemicals in cleaning products have been linked to asthma, which is a growing chronic health problem. Several chemicals present in some household and industrial cleaning products have been identified as
asthma triggers or are known to aggravate
existing respiratory symptoms.

Learn more about the links between cleaning products and asthma

Some chemicals in cleaning products have been linked to reproductive harm, which includes changes in sexual behavior, decreases in fertility, menstrual changes, changes in the onset of puberty, cancers of reproductive organs, miscarriage, premature birth and other effects. Many scientists now believe that chemical exposure, even at very low levels, can have adverse impacts on the reproductive system.

Learn more about the links between cleaning products and reproductive harm

Air fresheners deserve special attention because they may contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals as well as chemicals associated with respiratory and reproductive harm.

Air fresheners may contain a number of particularly hazardous chemicals. First, they contain fragrances, which are irritants associated with watery eyes, headaches, skin and respiratory irritation, asthma and allergic reactions. Exposure to phthalates, which carry the fragrances in these products, can also aggravate asthma[1] and are linked to reproductive harm. Finally, air fresheners may also contain VOCs such as xylene, ketones and aldehydes[2] as well as benzene and formaldehyde, both of which are known carcinogens.[3]

• A study of 14,000 pregnant women in the United Kingdom performed by epidemiologists at the University of Bristol in England showed a link between the use of air fresheners and aerosol sprays and an increase in headaches and depression in the mothers, as well as ear infections and diarrhea in their babies.
  
• In homes where air fresheners and aerosol sprays were used on most days, women experienced 25% more headaches and 19% more post-natal depression than women in homes where such products were used less than once a week.
  
• Babies under six months old who were exposed to air fresheners on most days had 30% more ear infections and a 22% greater chance of diarrhea than babies exposed less than once a week.[4]

While it is not clear which chemicals (or which combination of chemicals) found in air fresheners may be responsible for these effects, the results of this study raise concern about the safety of these products.

We know very little about the long-term health impacts of chronic exposure to chemicals in household cleaning products.

While additional studies are needed in order to fully ascertain the safety of using household cleaning chemicals over the course of a lifetime, the possible impacts of exposure to certain chemicals do present a cause for significant concern.

These chemicals also harm the natural environment

Chemicals in cleaning products can pollute when they are sprayed in the air or washed down the drain. That jeopardizes the health of our ecosystems.

The United States Geological Survey found breakdown products of laundry detergents in 70% of North American streams. These chemicals can cause harm to fish, frogs, turtles and other aquatic life. Studies have shown that even low-level exposure has reduced the number of fertilized trout eggs and caused reduced embryo survival and abnormal embryos in another fish, the Japanese Medaka.

Download WVE's fact sheet: Chemicals in Household Cleaning Products

What You Can Do A list of resources to help you protect the health of your family

Take Action! Demand that companies label their products and take harmful chemicals out of their cleaners

Read Household Hazards, WVE’s report on the potential hazards of chemicals in cleaning products

Report Updates

Support this ongoing work by making a financial contribution to WVE today

Return to the main cleaning products campaign page

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