Dangers lurking under your sink

One of the biggest risks of contamination from toxic chemicals derives from household cleaning products. So which pose the most long-term problems and what are the safer alternatives?

Oven cleaner

Oven cleaners often contain a cocktail of highly toxic chemicals. Many use artificial musks as a cheap fragrance. The two main kinds of musk, nitro and polycyclic, get into the body and don't break down easily. They bioaccumulate, which means they build up in our body fat.

These chemicals have been found in breast milk. Mice exposed to the artificial musk xylene have developed cancer. Unfortunately for the consumer, by law manufacturers don't have to state what kind of fragrance they use in their products - the label often reads "parfum" or "fragrance".

Safe alternative: Use sea salt and baking powder instead.

Washing-up liquid

Often contains artificial musks, which are ingested when residues become attached to food and drink. Anti-bacterial detergents are also a concern, especially the chlorine-based agent triclosan, which appears in many household products..

Safe alternative: Use a product which does not contain risky chemicals, like Ecover.

Laundry products

Many detergents, clothes conditioners and products like dryer cloths, colour-run remover and ironing sprays contain artificial musks and phthalates. Phthalates build up in the body and tests on animals showed they can cause birth defects and damage to the liver at low exposure levels. These chemicals get into our bodies by "dermal absorption" - that is through our skin from contact with clothes that have been washed in detergents with added chemicals.

Safe alternative: Laundry balls (Eco ball) are the greenest alternative to using normal detergents as they do not contain any persistent toxic chemicals.

Bathroom and kitchen cream cleaners and sprays

A few blasts of a sprayable cleaner is the easiest way to fill the atmosphere in your home full of toxic chemicals. Many contain phthalates.

Safe alternative: Use baking soda, a mild abrasive with a powerful cleaning action to clean the bath, basin and kitchen sink.

Spraying the air inside your home with chemicals is not going to freshen the air, especially brands that contain artificial musks. Pot pourri is also to be avoided, as some brands may contain synthetic musks.

Safe alternative: Use fresh flowers or dried lavender to scent your home.

Bleach

Nearly all major brands of bleach contain chlorine, (and look out for sodium hypochlorite, a derivative of chlorine) which is a very toxic and reactive chemical that accumulates in our bodies and in the environment.

Safe alternative: For bleaching clothes, use a laundry bleach not made of chlorine. Or try adding washing soda or white vinegar to your laundry load. Toilets can be cleaned using baking powder or undiluted white vinegar, left overnight and then scrubbed.

Floor cleaners

Carpet cleaners may contain artificial musks, phthalates and other persistent chemicals, as do liquid floor cleaners for mopping. Musk xylene has been shown to be capable of causing cancer in animals.

Safe alternative: Use a little detergent in hot water. White vinegar can be added to remove tough dirt.

The Greenpeace website www.greenpeace.org.uk publishes a list of products that do not use risky chemicals.