« Safe Drain Cleaners | Main | Summer Stain Busters »

Wall Street Journal front-pages chemical dangers

Page One of the July 25 Wall Street Journal carries the story Common Industrial Chemicals In Tiny Doses Raise Health Issue [subscription only]. Household cleaning products are not singled out, but the story does highlight the research -- both academic and industry-sponsored -- into the effects of the thousands of chemicals found in everyday products, or used in their manufacture, including the hormone-mimicking substances detailed in Green Clean:

"For years, scientists have struggled to explain rising rates of some cancers and childhood brain disorders.... One suspect is now drawing intense scrutiny: the prevalence in the environment of certain industrial chemicals at extremely low levels....

"Environmental chemicals don't exist in isolation.... So scientists at the University of London ... tested the hormonal strength of a blend of 11 common chemicals that can mimic estrogen. Alone, each was very weak. But when scientists mixed low doses of all 11 in a solution with natural estrogen ... they found the hormonal strength of natural estrogen was doubled. Such an effect inside the body could disrupt hormonal action."

Posted by GreenClean at July 25, 2005 02:29 PM