Shampoos, cleaners, and mothballs all have volatile organic compounds; study sees need for 'national action' for safety

Photo by Crystal de Passillé-Chabot, Unsplash 

Shouldn't a cleaner be clean? There may be no simple answer to that question. "Consumer products released more than 5,000 tons of chemicals in 2020 inside California homes and workplaces that are known to cause cancer, adversely affect sexual function and fertility in adults or harm developing fetuses, according to our newly published study," report Robin Dodson, Megan R. Schwarzman and Ruthann Ridel for The Conversation, a platform for journalism by academics. "We found that many household products like shampoos, body lotions, cleaners and mothballs release toxic volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into indoor air. In addition, we identified toxic VOCs that are prevalent in products heavily used by workers on the job, such as cleaning fluids, adhesives, paint removers and nail polish. However, gaps in laws that govern ingredient disclosure mean that neither consumers nor workers generally know what is in the products they use."

If most humans don't know these details, how did your study get the data? The study writers explain: "We analyzed data from the California Air Resources Board, which tracks VOCs released from consumer products to reduce smog. The agency periodically surveys companies that sell products in California, collecting information on concentrations of VOCs used in everything from hair spray to windshield wiper fluid. . . . We cross-referenced the most recent data with a list of chemicals identified as carcinogens or reproductive/developmental toxicants under California's right-to-know law Proposition 65. . . . We found 33 toxic VOCs present in consumer products. Over 100 consumer products covered by the CARB contain VOCs."

Does this study matter to people who don't live in California? Yes, the products are common across the country. Study authors report, "Our study identifies consumer products containing carcinogens and reproductive and developmental toxicants that are widely used at home and in the workplace. . . . For example, janitors might use a combination of general cleaners, degreasers, detergents and other maintenance products. . . .Our findings could help state and federal agencies strengthen chemical regulations. We identified five chemicals – cumene, 1,3-dichloropropene, diethanolamine, ethylene oxide and styrene – as high-priority targets for risk evaluation and management under the Toxic Substances Control Act by the Environmental Protection Agency."

Who is most at risk? Women. They report, "Studies have shown that women generally use more cosmetic, personal care and cleaning products than men, so they are likely to be more highly exposed to harmful chemicals. . . . Further, women working in settings like nail salons may be exposed to products used both personally and professionally. . . . Research by members of our team has also shown that product use varies by race and ethnicity, partly due to racialized beauty standards. Policy interventions could be tailored to prioritize these potentially more highly exposed groups. . . . We believe our new analysis points to the need for national action that ensures consumers and workers alike have safer products."