whose families used these products occasionally. Wheezing can be an early indication of the development
of asthma.
The study began with pregnant women and followed more than 14,000 children from pre-natal until the age
of 3 ½ years. Their results are distressing.“There is a gathering evidence that environment
exposures early in life, including in the womb, may influence the development of asthma. This large study
provides some evidence that increasing exposure to household chemicals during pregnancy
may be linked to an increased risk of a child wheezing in the first few years of life,” concluded Dr. Matt
Hallsworth. A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory focused on toxic pollutants emitted by common household cleaners
and air fresheners. (www.berkeley.edu/news/ media/releases/) “We’ve focused a lot of effort in the last
decades on controlling the big sources of air pollution and on the chemicals in consumer products that
contribute to outdoor ozone formation. However, now we’ve learned that we need to pay attention to other
aspects of pollution sources that are right under our nose,” said Professor of Environmental
Engineering, Dr. William Nazaroff. Focusing on specific types of cleaning
products, the results of this study are shocking. Through several common-use scenarios, the tests showed
that people may be routinely exposed to potentially dangerous levels of toxic pollutants. The
first example mimicked cleaning in a small, moderately ventilated bathroom. “In calculations based on
emission from one of the glycol-ether containing products, the team found that a person who
spends 15 minutes cleaning in a small shower stall could inhale three times the acute one-hour exposure
limit’ for this compound set by the California Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment.”
In addition to individual harm, there is a growing concern regarding the impact the use of these products is
having on the environment. From the burden containers impose on landfills to the negative impact on air
quality and other environmental factors, the focus is towards “green” or environmentallyfriendly
products. Advice on how to clean the home using common, non-toxic household items is plentiful. Items
such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and even toothpaste are recommended for cleaning. The
problem with these items is that while they may be effective for light cleaning, their impact on
common household jobs is minimal. While the concern for the environment and personal health may seem
new, GNLD has been creating biodegradable cleaning products since the 1960’s. Products such as Super
10®, LDC®, NCB,™ and G-One™ Laundry Compound, are based on low-dose, lowburden formulas.
Maximum cleaning performance can be achieved with a minimum amount of product—better for
the environment, better for your wallet! Both Super 10 and LDC are manufactured in Europe where the
standards for “green” criteria are the highest in the world.Additionally, the versatility of these products
replaces a cupboard full of specialty cleaners. With 100% biodegradable formulas, no toxic fumes, and no
harsh chemicals, you can feel comfortable bringing these products into your home. Most people keep their
houses clean to create a comfortable and safe environment for their families. It would be a sad irony if the
very methods used to eliminate unsafe germs and bacteria were in fact creating possible health risks.
You can use harsh chemicals to facilitate the cleaning of your home and run the risk of impairing the health
of you and your family members, you can use lemons and vinegar to freshen up your home semi-effectively,
or you can use GNLD’s powerful, yet gentle cleaning products that will get the job done without creating
hardship on you or the environment—
