The Average American Uses about 25 Gallons of "TOXIC" , "HAZARDOUS" Chemical Products per year in their Home... A Major Portion Of These Can Be Found In Household Cleaning Products. (Source: Prosperity Without Pollution, by Joel S. Hirschorn and Kirsten V. Oldenburg, 1991). Consider the following trends in children's health : Nearly 5 million U.S. children suffer from asthma, and rates have increased rapidly over the past several decades. Childhood cancer rates have increased gradually and with consistency for many forms of the disease, while increasing most rapidly for leukemia (ALL) and cancers of the central nervous system (brain tumors). Birth defects continue to be the primary cause of infant mortality. Nearly 1 of every 28 babies is born with a birth defect. Nearly 17% of children less than 18 years in age have been diagnosed with at least one developmental disorder. Between 3-5% of children in the U.S. have Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the incidence may be on the rise. Visits to office-based physicians for pediatric ADHD-related concerns increased by 90% between 1989 and 1996.The use of stimulants such as Ritalin to treat ADHD in children rose 14% during this same period. The nervous systems of more than one million children are irreversibly damaged from exposure to lead, primarily from exposure to deteriorating paints. HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN . CONSIDER THESE FACTS : Within 26 seconds after exposure to chemicals such as cleaning products , traces of these chemicals can be found in every organ in the body. About one percent of the nation's trash is made up of household hazardous waste. That small percentage equals 3.36 million tons, an average of 60-100 pounds per household at any given time. More than 1.4 million Americans exposed to household chemicals were referred to poison control centers in 2001. 824,000 of these exposure victims were children under the age of 6. Household chemicals cause frequent fires in dumpsters and trash collection trucks, and injuries to trash workers. A New York sanitation worker was killed in 1998 when a hazardous liquid in household trash sprayed his face and clothes. DID YOU KNOW ? THAT OF THE 17,OOO CHEMICALS THAT APPEAR IN COMMON HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS, ONLY 30% HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TESTED FOR THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON OUR HEALTH . THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ( E.P.A. ) HAS FOUND THAT AIRBORNE CHEMICAL LEVELS IN HOMES WERE AS MUCH AS SEVENTY ( 70 ) TIMES HIGHER INSIDE THAN OUTSIDE . THE FEDERAL FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION ( F.D.A. ) CANNOT REQUIRE COMPANIES TO DO SAFETY TESTING ON THEIR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS BEFORE THEY ARE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC . MEDICAL DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS HAVE STUDIED, ANALYZED, EVALUATED, AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS A DEFINITIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR HEALTH AND THE USE OF EVERYDAY COMMON HOUSEHOLD CLEANING CHEMICALS . ...AND THERE'S MORE ! ( About The Hazards Of Household Cleaning Products ) INDOOR AIR IS OFTEN TWO TO FIVE TIMES MORE CONTAMINATED THAN OUTDOOR AIR . CHILDHOOD ASTHMA HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS (American Lung Assoc.)... And Some Cleaners May Be Triggers To Asthma Attacks. 70,000 SYNTHENTIC CHEMICALS ARE IN PRODUCTION TODAY. MANY ARE SUSPECTED TO CAUSE CANCER OR OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS,... BUT ONLY 600 HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TESTED. ( SOURCE : City of Boulder-Office of Environmental Affairs http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/environmentalaffairs/healthyhome ) ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOMFORTS AND ILLNESSES are increasing at alarming rates 15-25% OF OUR POPULATION HAS SOME TYPE OF BREATHING PROBLEMS such as hay fever or asthma, and are adversely affected by strong odors included in perfume, aftershave, hair spray and body lotions 9 OUT OF 10 BREATHS are likely drawn indoors THERE WAS A 38% INCREASE IN PRESCRIPTIONS FOR AIRWAY MEDICATIONS from 1985 to 1990 THERE ARE APPROX. 4,000 INDIVIDUAL FRAGRANCE COMPOUNDS - several hundred may be used in creating a single scent 17-22% OF PEOPLE SUFFER FROM FRAGRANCE-RELATED MIGRAINE HEADACHES ADVERSE REACTIONS FROM SCENTED PRODUCTS result in sick time, lost productivity, increased insurance costs and hostility from employers and employees who do not understand the health threats of fragrances. Chemically sensitive individuals cannot simply avoid fragrances...they share air in which they have no control other. Check out the toxic products that may be lurking in your home with the free toxic check list here http://dennismc.toxinchecklist.com/