Environment Day on Monday made us focus on one of the issues that also have to do with our health - cleaning products. Recently, more and more ecological cleaning products are popping up on the market, which raises the question of how much they are really superior to regular cleaning products.
But first: what are ecological cleaning products, anyway? Lior Aroas, Head of the Sustainability, Environment and Green Labeling Branch at the Standards Institution of Israel, explains: "These are products with materials that cause less damage to the environment. We examine, for example, how long it takes for products to biodegrade, whether they contain preservatives, dyes and odors, and whether the substance can harm living sources in the water. On the other hand, in order to approve the product and make sure that it is not too diluted and active, part of our requirements is that the material will show efficiency in cleaning and contain up to a certain percentage of water, and accordingly we decide whether to give it a green pass.
"Cleaning products are supposed to meet such standards that they will not harm the end user. Some products will cause side effects or allergies to some people, and some people won't."
Can regular cleaners be harmful?
"Regular cleaning products have standards that they are supposed to meet, but if you take bleach, which is a base, and mix it with an acidic product, the chemical reaction will create chlorine gas in the house, which can lead to a very serious health condition. You can see before the holidays that people are cleaning their houses and mixing materials, and sometimes they hurt themselves."
'Cleaning products have standards they need to meet' (illustration), Photo: Getty Images
Allowed for use at sea
Currently, there is no legal requirement for companies to meet certain conditions before they can call their products "green" or "ecological," creating a mess in this product market. Michael Love, director of research and development at Miyo Scent, says that although the company does not have approval from the Standards Institute, it received its "official approval" for being ecological from the United States: "We started with ecological products even before the green wave began in Israel, 11 years ago. We received approval from the US Department of Environment to work on a project to save marine life, after the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, and then our company, Neo Eco-Industries, developed the fat solvent that we market to this day.
"Today it is intended for simple domestic use, but originally it dismantled the oil from the sea and cleared the environment for animals, and the certificate we received stated that the product can be used in the sea and that it is not toxic to the environment. The formula found in Myo Cent's preparation today is the same one from 11 years ago - a biological fat solvent, not an acidic substance that burns everything in the path."
Caution, allergens
As mentioned, besides the environmental hazard, some regular cleaning products also entail a health hazard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists the health problems that can develop due to the use of regular cleaning products: VOCs can negatively affect indoor and outdoor air quality, certain ingredients can irritate the eyes or skin, and the use of non-ecological chemicals can cause side effects such as headaches, throat irritation, asthma due to inhalation of vapors, and in severe cases even poisoning or chemical burn.
"Ongoing harm." Cleaning products (illustration), photo: Getty Images
"Products such as dish soaps, floor materials and various disinfectants can cause lasting damage, because every day you are exposed to them a little," explains Dr. Efrat Solomon Cohen, a dermatologist and head of dermatology in the Dan-Petach Tikva district of Clalit Health Services. "They can cause dermatitis, itching, a layer of skin that peels off and damage the integrity of the skin. Moreover, the skin does not have the ability to repair itself, because almost every day we are exposed to these substances.
"In addition, allergic dermatitis can occur - these substances contain many allergens that penetrate the skin barrier. The immune cells absorb them and produce antibodies against them, and whenever there is exposure to the allergen and the immune system responds, it can manifest itself in itching and redness of varying degrees of severity."
And in ecological products, is the damage less severe?
"Most of them are based on citric acids and essential oils. This does not mean that with high exposure and high concentrations they will not be able to cause allergy, but it is likely that there will be fewer allergic reactions, which are usually caused by preservatives. Eco-products contain fewer or fewer perfumes, which can also cause allergy and are often added more to regular cleaning products. Of course, it is worthwhile to check the ingredients in ecological products as well."
Elysium
Cleaning products for baby accessories imported by Organiczone. Among the products: an antibacterial ecological liquid based on water for cleaning and disinfecting toys and eating surfaces, which has successfully passed a toxicity test, is non-flammable and does not contain alcohol; and an ecological liquid for washing, cleaning and disinfecting crockery and breast pumps. Product ingredients: citrus peels and corn, pineapple and coconut concentrates. Active ingredients of plant origin only.
Price of the spray: 27 NIS
Cleaning spray for alcohol-free toys and surfaces, photo: PR
Miyo Scent
Solvents and removes fats by breaking down the molecular bonds of fat particles, without fear of harm to the health of the user; a bath for cleaning and removing water deposits that does not damage sanitary ware or stainless steel and leaves a water-repellent layer; and a versatile detergent for a variety of surfaces. All products do not require gloves when in use. The preparations are based on vinegar, citrus peels, citric acid, baking soda and more.
Price range:35-45 NIS
Miyo Scent's Solvent & Degreaser,
Snow GREEN POWER
A line of eco-cleaning products that contain renewable, biodegradable plant soaps and their packaging is 100% recyclable. The products have a Green Pass standard from the Standards Institution of Israel and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Products include: general cleaning liquid plus soda powder, window cleaner plus vinegar, floor cleaner plus soda powder and dish cleaner with aloe vera extract.
Price range:10-34.90 NIS
Sano eco-cleaning products, photo: Machine Studio
SUNDAY CLOTHS
Made of natural and environmentally friendly fibers, ecological, reusable, highly absorbent and leaving no fiber.
Price:19.90 NIS, available at Super-Pharm
Sunday Eco Cloths, Photo: PR
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us
