Do you have severe chemical sensitivities, small children, pets or simply share our interest in having a truly healthy, clean home? This section will help you make informed choices about the cleaning products you use at home.
Our chemist has compiled answers to some frequently asked questions about cleaning products, the impacts on your health and our environment.
Want to know even more? Have other questions for our chemist? We would love to hear from you. Send us an email hello@realgreenproducts.ca or call (519) 323-3526.
Meet our Chemist:
Marilyn Patterson is the knowledge, guiding force behind the REAL GREEN product line.
Marilyn graduated with an Honours Degree in Chemistry and studied Immunology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. At the University, she spent several years as a Teaching Assistant in the Chemistry Department and was an Administrative Assistant for the Organic Laboratories.
She has collaborated with many start-up companies in the development of environmentally-friendly products. Marilyn is well versed in the safety regulations & guidelines for organic products according to both the North American and European standards.
Question #1
What is an ethoxlyate and why is it bad?
Ethoxylation is an industrial process in which ethylene oxide is added to fatty acid alcohols to give them detergent properties. Ethoxylated surfactants are widely used in cosmetics and in the cleaning product industry as foaming agents, emulsifiers and humectants. As part of the manufacturing process the toxic chemical 1,4-dioxane, a potent carcinogen, is generated. Also, because of the way they degrade they are toxic to aquatic life.
Top
Question #2
What are Nitrosamines and why are they harmful?
Nitrosamines are the reaction products of chemicals produced from nitrates and secondary amines under certain extreme conditions. They are known to be highly carcinogenic and have been especially linked to bladder cancer..
On the label, they are identified by the prefix "PEG", "polyethylene", "polyethylene glycol", "polyoxyethylene", "-eth-", or "-oxynol-".
The following chemicals can cause nitrosamine contamination, and which can be found in cleaning products, both natural and conventional, and in cosmetics.
• 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
• Cocoyl Sarcosine
• DEA compounds
• Imidazolidinyl Urea
• Formaldehyde
• Hydrolysed Animal Protein
• Lauryl Sarcosine
• MEA compounds
• Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60, etc
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
• TEA compounds
• Cocamide DEA
Top
Question #3
What is a surfactant and what should I know about them?
Surfactants are the main cleaning agent in a cleaning product. The word surfactant is short for ‘Surface Active Agent.” When dissolved in water or another solvent, it gives a product the ability to remove dirt from surfaces. They enable the cleaning solution to fully wet the surface being cleaned so that dirt can be readily loosened and removed.
Claims made on natural cleaning products that it is plant or naturally derived it typically is referring to the surfactants. Almost all the products used for personal cleansing, laundering, dishwashing and household cleaning are surfactant-based.
Surfactants are made from petrochemicals (derived from crude oil or natural gas) or oleo chemicals (derived from fats and oils). Some types of surfactants can be made from either raw material source. Petrochemicals are often termed "synthetic" materials, while oleo chemicals are sometimes called "natural." Both have "natural" sources, since crude oil is extracted from the earth and oleo chemicals come from plants or animals.
Whatever their source, surfactant raw materials have to be chemically converted, or synthesized, before they can become useful ingredients in cleaning products. In its final form, a surfactant based on oleo chemicals is similar to the same surfactant based on petrochemicals. This similarity enables manufacturers to use either or both types of surfactants in their cleaning products. Availability, cost, ease of formulation, and desired product form and characteristics are the deciding factors.
The reason surfactants made from petrochemicals are not accepted as natural is that they are not a renewable resource.
Also, research indicates that some surfactants can be toxic to animals, ecosystems and humans due to their surface active nature, and can increase the diffusion of other environmental contaminants.
