New research has shown that “green” cleaning products emit as many harmful chemicals as regular products, challenging the perception that they are safer for health and the environment. The study highlights the need for better regulation and consumer guidance, as these products can degrade indoor air quality and potentially pose health risks.
New research indicates that many cleaning products marketed as “green” release the same amount of hazardous chemicals as conventional cleaning products.
Researchers say there needs to be better regulation and more guidance for consumers about how safe cleaning products really are.
Potentially harmful
The study, published by The Royal Society of Chemistry in the journal Environmental Science: Processes & Impact, found that fragranced cleaning products can be potentially harmful for the air quality in people’s homes.
Cleaning products emit a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including some which are hazardous or can undergo chemical transformations to generate harmful secondary pollutants. In recent years, “green” cleaners have become increasingly popular, with an implicit assumption that these are better for our health and the environment. But the IMPeCCABLE. It is a collaboration between the University of York’s Department of Environment and Geography, the Department of Chemistry, and the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory.
Miss Harding-Smith, who is a PhD Candidate, added: “The study highlights potential compositional differences in the formulations of regular and green cleaners, for which there is currently very little information on in the available literature.
Mitigating harm
“Manufacturers really need to be so much clearer about what’s in these products and make clear how to mitigate their harm. For example, just improving ventilation and opening windows when using these cleaning products makes air quality at home so much better.”
Reference: “Does green mean clean? Volatile organic emissions from regular versus green cleaning products” by Ellen Harding-Smith, David R. Shaw, Marvin Shaw, Terry J. Dillonb and Nicola Carslaw, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts.
DOI: 10.1039/D3EM00439B
