Thursday, July 10, 2014

Cleaning Out Dirt or Disrupting Nature?

Here's an article written before by a Cleaning Support writer: 


Cleaning Out Dirt or Disrupting Nature?   



I guess we could agree that making our surroundings clean would do us good.  If there would be no harmful bacteria around, we could all live healthily and feeling comfortable.  However, some cleaning agents contain hazardous chemicals that are detrimental to our environment. 

I saw a man watering the plants with water filled with suds.  It was what he used to rinse something he cleaned using a detergent.  I wondered if it would really not be bad for the plants.  To that man, it was fine, because he believed the label on the detergent saying “green”.  In my head, I was thinking if our cleaning contributing to the destruction of the environment?  I went to look into our stock of cleaning agents, and found out that it had other labels saying, “biodegradable”, and “natural”.  Honestly, I did not have any clue about the specifics of it.  I began to be curious.  You know the saying, read between the lines.  Moreover, in a more analytical manner, know the context of what you are reading.  So, I did and found out significant guidelines when choosing the kind of cleansers to use.  In this way, I could be cleaning whatever I dare to clean without a heavy conscience against the good of the environment.          

Here are the Guidelines:   

First, do not fall into the trap of vague labels.  Instead, find out cleaning agents that inform people how many days it would take for it to biodegrade, rather than just plain labelling saying “biodegradable”.

Second, avoid cleaning products that contain:

a.       Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) which contain nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates found in detergents, stain removers, disinfectants.  It is also put in citrus degreasers.  It was discovered in Britain by John Sumpter that male fish in rivers produced egg-yolk proteins when exposed to APEs.  An abnormality brought by APEs ability to mimic estrogen of salmon and other fish.         

b.      Phosphates which pollutes the water, and consequently leads to the death of fish and other aquatic life.  It promotes the overgrowth of algae which depletes the oxygen in the water.   

Third, choose cleaning agents that are bottled in materials that can be recycled.  Avoid those bottled in vinyl made of vinyl chloride, a cancer-causing chemical.

Fourth, the term “organic” does not mean the same when referring to food.  It is actually carbon-based chemicals like VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which have real bad fumes.  Such would cause damage to the brain or cancer.

Personally, I could not help, but wonder if there is an authority that regulates on chemical matters.  It is good to know that there is the chemical regulator in Australia called as the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) which is responsible in regulating industrial chemicals. It works with the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities which also plays its part in chemical management in the country – making environmental assessments of chemicals for industrial and agricultural purposes, supporting the formulation of international agreements in the subject of harmful substances, and coordinating with the States and Territories.      
           

To protect the environment, we need to really care about issues concerning it, be educated, act, change our old ways and influence others to do the same.  According to the social research series entitled, “Who Cares about the Environment” by the State of NSW and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, ‘Many are pro-active’.  In the results of the latest study dated 2012, it was stated that, “…one-in-two people say they have tried to encourage someone to change an activity or practice that was harmful to the environment”.  The subjects of the social survey were 2,006 NSW residents from ages fifteen years old and above.  The qualitative research included nine discussion groups.  It was also cited in there that, “…At home, people continue to practice many positive environmental behaviours as part of their daily lives…people who are doing more are those who feel their actions make a difference.  This is an indicator that people are changing the old ways to protect the mother earth.  Interestingly, six percent (6%) from the total number of respondents find that environment/environmental issues are the two most important issues for NSW now – placing the matter as seventh (7th) in the rank (alongside the issues on planning and development).  While, fourteen percent (14%) find that it is important in ten (10) years’ time.  As a future priority, it ranked fifth (5th).  With regard to the changes, it was explained in the social research series that the “key contributor” to it is the decrease of issues concerning water issues and lesser instances when climate change is mentioned.    

It takes a whole community to make an impact that is protective of the environment.  Let us maintain the cleanliness of our surroundings while being mindful of the environment.  In Cleaning Support Services, only safe cleaning materials are used, because we value nature. 



References:



How Toxic Are Your Household Cleaning Supplies?




National chemicals management




Who Cares about the Environment in 2012?  At a glance

Copyright State of NSW and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage











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