READ THE LABEL

Cleaning products containing hazardous chemicals

include a SIGNAL WORD on the label.

Signal Word	Category	Lethal Dose
Danger or Poison	highly toxic	a few drops to 1tsp
Warning	moderately toxic	1 tsp to 1 ounce
Caution	slightly toxic	1 ounce to 2 cups
(no singal word)	non toxic	large quantites

          

LABELS DO TELL YOU the SIGNAL WORD – DANGER, WARNING, POISON, CAUTION – if the product contains hazardous chemicals. LABELS DO TELL YOU about acute immediate health effects.  Look for words like: TOXIC, POISONOUS, CORROSIVE, FLAMMABLE, REACTIVE.   LABELS DO TELL YOU The toll free 800 number to call the manufacturer about ingredients or questions.

LABELS DON’T TELL YOU about long term, chronic health effects like: Asthma, Allergies, Cancer, Liver & Kidney Disease, Developmental & neurological Disorders, Reproductive Disorders, Birth Defects. LABELS DON’T TELL YOU about the environmental effects of manufacturing, using or disposing of toxic cleaners.   LABELS DON’T TELL YOU all the ingredients.  NO LAWS require manufacturers to list all the ingredients in household cleaners, even if they are known to be harmful.  Manufacturers may list some voluntarily.