Did you ever think that buying green at home could improve your environment? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in the United States, 32 billion gallons of runoff water enters the oceans daily. These pollutants come from fertilizing lawns and golf courses, factory farms discharging animal waste plus gas and oil leaking onto our roadways.



One third of all household pollution comes from the cleaning products we use. A 2002 U.S. Geological Survey found that 69% of streams sampled for contaminants contained persistent detergent metabolites and 66% contained disinfectants.

When rainfall moves this runoff thru our storm drains, watersheds and rivers it creates massive, nutrient-fed algal blooms and oxygen depleted areas in our coastal waters suffocating fish and other marine life. These dead zones occur along the shores of all the oceans, including one of more than 8,000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico.

As a person concerned about the impact your actions have on the environment, you should look at the ways your cleaning products effect the environment. These include 1) Usage - Their use may release toxic and hazardous vapors into the indoor air which may be unhealthy for your family. 2) Manufacture - The purchase of potentially hazardous products creates a demand for toxic chemicals which contributes to environmental pollution due to the development, manufacture and transportation of these chemicals. 3) Disposal - When hazardous products are used they release chemicals into the wastewater stream adding to the runoff problem. Most often hazardous products are not disposed of properly and are land filled or incinerated where they can release their toxins to the environment.

The use of toxic, non-biodegradable products can cause indoor air quality problems including possible chemical burns, health problems from absorption or ingestion and even certain diseases. Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease are thought to be caused by environmental influences such as exposure to toxins found in cleaning solutions. In addition bioaccumulation studies have shown that some toxins store in our body fat for life. Greater amounts are being stored at younger ages and diseases that used to develop later in life are now appearing in children and teenagers.

There has been a 28% increase in childhood cancer since the addition of pesticides into household products (Source: National Cancer Institute)

Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities (Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Most homes have airborne concentrations of hazardous and toxic chemicals that are 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors (Source: Environmental Protection Agency's Report to Congress on Indoor Air Quality Act of 1989)

When it comes to choosing home cleaning supplies you have several options. Many cleaning supplies you find at the store come in "green" varieties, meaning that the cleaners are usually all natural organic elements with no chemicals. These products are safe for the environment.

Another option is to shop online for the goods you need. This will give you a chance to learn more about what a company is offering and how well their goods match your environmental standards. Learn if they have a set of buy green standards that examine a products' lifecycle;

1) Source Material: What is the product made from?

2) Manufacturing: How is it manufactured?

3) Usage, How is it used and what is its effect on the environment?

4) Disposal: How is it disposed of and what is the environmental impact?

This research will help you protect our valuable water resources while offering a safe, enjoyable green shopping experience.