The chemicals in some cleaning products can irritate the skin or cause rashes. Cleaning products that contain corrosive chemicals can cause serious burns if splashed on the skin or eyes. Products that contain bleach and ammonia can cause serious lung damage or death. Maintaining a hygienic work environment has never been more important, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19 and monkeypox.
Statistics show that proper commercial cleaning reduces the risk of employees contracting common viruses, such as the flu, by an impressive 80%. A number of cleaning products, including disinfectants and air fresheners, contain potentially carcinogenic compounds that could increase the risk of cancer. For example, a medical study found that women who used cleaning products regularly were twice as likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who did not use cleaning products. Antimicrobial chemicals are inherently toxic because they are designed to kill living microbes.
While they effectively eliminate germs on surfaces, there's no evidence that killing germs (especially in a home environment) is truly effective in keeping your family healthier. The overuse (and unnecessary use) of antimicrobial chemicals can also lead to the development of more drug-resistant bacteria in our environment. Cleaning ingredients present acute and immediate risks for asthma or respiratory inflammation, and have long-term effects, such as impaired lung function. After receiving damning reports about liquids, detergents, and cleaning agents, specialized service providers with the knowledge necessary to determine which products are free of toxic substances appear to be a glimmer of hope.
Mixtures of certain cleaning products can cause dangerous reactions, such as the mixture of ammonia and bleach. Cleaning products have attracted attention in the market, and there is more and more research pointing to health problems for users. Studies have found higher rates of birth defects in the children of cleaning workers who have been occupationally exposed to glycol ethers. For example, wearing a mask will help your employees avoid the unpleasant side effects of inhaling cleaning products.
In general, chronic effects on cleaning workers have been studied, but they are rarely, if ever, investigated with respect to household cleaning. Inhaling chemicals during cleaning can cause respiratory problems and lead to various health complications. However, most natural cleaning products are just as effective, without posing a health risk to employees. Possible health defects include low sperm counts, higher rates of male reproductive system disorders, such as undescended testicles or hypospadias, and an increased chance of developing certain types of cancer.
