An Introduction To The Health Effects of Toxic Products In The Home
Home, Sweet Home! Be it ever so humble, there ’s no place like home. Home, Sweet Home! John Howard Payne
Toxics in the Home
Household products Mold & mildew Radon Indoor air Second hand smoke Lead Paint solvents
Household Hazardous Waste How many pounds of household hazardous waste in your home? (i.e. paints, varnishes, motor oil, pesticides, antifreeze, fluorescent lights)
Product Hazards
Flammability Reactivity (Things that change violently into other things) Corrosive (strong acid or base) Toxicity: human Toxicity: environmental (kills plants, wildlife)
Hazard & Risk
Dose ≈ Response Risk = Hazard x Exposure Individual Sensitivity
Exposure Routes Ingestion Direct ingestion of product Hand to mouth contact
Inhalation Acute inhalation of product during use Chronic inhalation of indoor air
Skin/eye contact Splashing/spilling during use Violent chemical reactions Contact with treated surfaces
Poisoning Facts Poisoning events in United States 2000
2.2 million reported exposures 53% involved children under age 6 90% occurred in the home 475,079 treated in a health care facility 920 deaths reported in 2000
Source: National Poison Centers, 2000 data (Litovitz, 2001)
More Poisoning Facts Frequency by category Incidents reported 0 cleaners personal care plants pesticides animal bites art, craft, office paint products automotive mushrooms
50000 100000 150000 200000 250000
Even More Poisoning Facts Moderate to serious outcomes 0.00%
rust remover drain (alkaline) lighter fluid ammonia mineral spirits all cleaners herbicides laundry granules
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
Common Toxicity Measures • LD50: acute ingestion (mg/kg) • LC50: acute inhalation (ppm) • Draize score: skin irritation • TLV: chronic inhalation (ppm) • Reference dose: chronic exposure (mg/kg/day)
Oral Toxicity of Common Substances Practically non-toxic (> 15,000 mg/kg or .5oz/lb) Probable oral lethal dose for 150 lb adult > 1 quart modeling clay paraffin wax baby lotion blemish cover (e.g. Clearasil) bone meal cat litter 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1mg=0.000035 ounce
Slightly toxic Slightly toxic (5,000 to 15,000 mg/kg) Probable oral lethal dose for 150 lb adult: between 1 pt & 1 qt hand dishwashing liquid window cleaner latex house paint soap deodorant (roll-on) white glue (e.g. Elmers)
Moderately toxic Moderately toxic (500 to 5,000 mg/kg) Probable oral lethal dose for 150 lb adult: between 1 oz & 1 pt antifreeze motor fuels* (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel) shoe polish oil-based house paint holly berries *NOTE: breathing fumes probably more important than toxicity because it will displace oxygen.
Very toxic Very toxic (50 to 500 mg/kg) Probable oral lethal dose for 150 lb adult: between 1 tsp & 1 oz aspirin and other analgesics lacquer thinners toluene, xylene (aromatic hydrocarbons) mothballs (camphor, naphthalene) tobacco leaves foxglove (digitalis) caffeine diazinon insecticide
Extremely toxic Extremely toxic (5 to 50 mg/kg) Probable oral lethal dose for 150 lb adult: 7 drops to 1 tsp opium codeine oil of sassafras
Super toxic Super toxic (< 5 mg/kg) Probable oral lethal dose for 150 lb adult: less than 7 drops nicotine botulinum toxins
TLVs of Common Ingredients COMPOUND ethanol acetone isopropanol gasoline Methanol turpentine xylene hexane methylene chloride paradichlorobenzene carbon monoxide malathion
TLV 1000 750 400 300 200 100 100 50 50 10 10
formaldehyde chlorpyrifos diazinon
0.30 0.014 0.008
FOUND IN vodka, gin, rum, etc. nail polish remover rubbing alcohol motor fuel Bix Stripper paint stripper paint thinner spray paint Carterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rubber cement Bix Tuff Job paint stripper mothballs 0.74
at % 40 >50 70 100 24-50 100 bulk 90 85 100
Ortho Malathion 50+ Insect Spray
Dursban Spray Diazinon Granules
5.3 5.0
TLV â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Threshold Limit Value of a chemical substance defines the reasonable level to which a person can be exposed without adverse health effects.
50
Carcinogens Ingredient Lead benzene formaldehyde methylene chloride p-dichlorobenzene vermiculite arsenic
Product(s) Old paints(1978) gasoline probably many paint strippers (many) mothballs (many) potting soils CCA-treated lumber
% in Product 0.5% >1% unknown up to 85% 100% ? 34% As2O5
Deducing Toxicity from Label Information • Stick with federally regulated information • Signal words only semi-consistent • Ignore marketing information • Be alert for inconsistencies
Example
ADVERTISING
SIGNAL WORD
Signal Words Signal Word
EPA
FDA
DANGER
Cat. I
not used
WARNING
Cat. II
not used
CAUTION
Cat. III/IV
“pay attention”
not used
Not Hazardous
No sig. word
Shortcomings of Label Information • All ingredients not listed (except food, drug, cosmetic, personal care)
• Only pesticides have disposal and environmental information (and the disposal information is mostly incorrect!)
• Signal words linked to acute hazards only • Some labels contain marketing information that minimizes or contradicts safety warnings • People don’t read labels anyway
Favorite Labels “Confine pets during application to prevent them from believing they are being fed.” - slug bait “Avoid use while smoking.” - hair spray “This product must not be used for dyeing eyelashes or eyebrows. To do so may cause blindness.” - hair color
Label Contradictions The Sales… • Stops Squeaks • Cleans & Protects • Loosens Rusted Parts • Drives Out Moisture But just below… • DANGER • Flammable • Harmful or Fatal if Swallowed
And That’s Not All! • KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN • BREATHING HAZARD – May be Harmful or Fatal • If swallowed do not induce vomiting, call the Doctor Immediately! • Eye Contact: flush for 15 minutes with large amounts water
Less-Toxic Alternatives ►Water-based products ►Mechanical devices ►Enzymes instead of solvents ►Biological pesticides
Less-Toxic Alternatives Alternative Latex paint Snake, plunger Scouring powder Beneficial nematodes Weed puller, mulch
Instead of Using Oil-based paint Caustic drain opener Acid toilet cleaner Insecticide for soil grubs Herbicide
Toxic Ingredient Avoided Solvents Corrosive lye Corrosive hydrochloric acid Diazinon, carbaryl or other insecticide 2,4-D, dichlobenil, etc.