In a special issue, the magazine “60 million consumers” warns against the use of certain household products that harm our health and the environment due to the toxicity of their components.
Pollutants, toxic and dangerous. Here is, in essence, what the survey conducted by 60 million consumers think of our household products.
In a special issue published on Friday April 12, the magazine warns consumers against these products that are supposed to degrease, disinfect and shine the surfaces of our interiors.
Because if the labels promise that a sweet smell of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus will embalm our house, 60 million consumers claim that “most of these products are full of harmful substances” which not only constitute a danger for the environment , but are also particularly harmful to our health.
“It’s the paradox of these products: you use them to sanitize your house and you get the opposite effect”, explains to France News Christelle Pangrazzi, deputy editor of the magazine.
Adverse health effects
To reach this conclusion, 60 million consumers analyzed the composition of some sixty products considered “household stars” and sold in supermarkets. Dishwashing products, detergents, sanitizing sprays, glass cleaners and even dishwasher tablets were thus screened.
The results of the survey are hardly brilliant: “the vast majority” of these products contain “one or more toxic substances, harmful to our health or the environment”, reveals the magazine.
Among the most controversial substances are isothiazolinones, toxic preservatives present in 67% of the products tested, “extremely” allergenic perfumes or even quaternary ammoniums such as benzalkonium, which appear in products where it is noted that they “kill 99.9% of bacteria” or that they destroy viruses, fungi and bacteria. Problem: these powerful biocides, also used by hospital caregivers, are recognized as “one of the leading causes of occupational asthma” and suspected of promoting bacterial resistance.
Substances that pollute our interiors
These harmful chemical substances have a direct impact on the quality of the air in our interiors, reminds 60 million consumers. The cause: the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they emit, which can cause respiratory diseases and allergies. “The first of these pollutants is tobacco smoke, then come household products, and in particular those in sprays, or rinsing products for dishwashers”, explains pulmonologist Jean-Philippe Santoni to France Info.
One of the most common VOCs in our interiors is formaldehyde. Emitted by scented candles or incense, this substance has been classified as a proven carcinogen since 2004.
For more readable labels
To better inform consumers about the presence of toxic substances in household products, 60 million consumers are calling for new “clear and immediately readable” labeling. He campaigns in particular for the establishment of a “Ménag’score”. Copied on the Nutri-score, which would classify household products from “A” (“no undesirable substances for health”) to “E” (“significant quantity of irritating substances”).
60 million consumers also recommend replacing chemical household products with natural solutions such as baking soda, white vinegar or black soap, which are just as effective and safe for health, as well as ventilating our interiors daily for 10 minutes.
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