KEEPING A CLEAN HOME IS A BIG STEP IN MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE… BUT WHAT IF THE PRODUCTS YOU’RE USING TO CLEAN YOUR HOME – ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM?

IT MAY BE EASY TO SEE PRODUCTS ON STORE SHELVES AND ASSUME THEY’RE SAFE – THEY MUST BE, IF THEY’RE BEING SOLD NATIONWIDE, RIGHT?

ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP – A NONPROFIT THAT RESEARCHES AND ADVOCATES FOR SAFER PRODUCTS – MORE THAN 2-THOUSAND CLEANING SUPPLIES MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANCES LINKED TO HEALTH PROBLEMS LIKE ASTHMA… CANCER RISK… AND CHEMICAL BURNS.

THESE SUBSTANCES ARE KNOWN AS VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS – OR V-O-Cs – WHICH ARE GASES THAT CAN BE EMITTED FROM CERTAIN PRODUCTS.

ACCORDING TO THE E-P-A… THE IMPACT OF THESE CHEMICALS DEPENDS ON HOW OFTEN YOU’RE EXPOSED TO THEM – AND TO WHAT DEGREE.

THE AGENCY SAYS THE CONCENTRATION OF V-O-Cs ARE OFTEN MUCH HIGHER INDOORS.

ONE TOP E-P-A OFFICIAL SAID IT CAN BE HARD TO AVOID THESE CHEMICALS BECAUSE THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS IN CLEANING PRODUCTS CAN BE LONG… AND IT’S HARD TO TELL WHAT EXACTLY YOU COULD BE EXPOSED TO BASED ON THAT LIST.

THE E-P-A HAS MADE IT EASIER TO CHOOSE HEALTHIER PRODUCTS, THOUGH.

IT HAS A LABEL YOU CAN LOOK FOR ON CLEANING SUPPLIES THAT SAYS THE E-P-A HAS DEEMED THEM A “SAFER CHOICE.”

THEY ALSO HAVE A DEDICATED WEBSITE WHERE IF YOU’RE NOT SURE ABOUT A PRODUCT – YOU CAN SEARCH IT TO SEE IF IT MEASURES UP TO THE E-P-A’S STANDARDS.