“Your daughter won’t sit still for circle” I was told by my daughter's preschool teacher when she was four. This kind of surprised me because she would sit still at home to listen to stories.
“May I observe her tomorrow?” I asked. So there I was the next day observing my daughter and she behaved wonderfully. I pulled the teacher aside and asked if she had the right child and she replied: “Come to think of it; she only misbehaves for the second circle”.
HHHHMMMM, I watched my daughter play and get along just fine and then it was time for the second circle. I noticed one teacher was spraying the tables down to get ready for a snack and I did notice it had a funny odor. Within a few minutes, my little girl was very unruly and difficult to control. Could she be reacting to the cleaner? she eventually ate the snack and was still unruly during free play. By the time the third circle came around, she was once again focused and could pay attention to the story.
I asked the teacher for the name of the cleaner they were using and called the manufacturer. I was surprised to hear that they do not have to release the ingredients, but they offered their MSDS for my review. Wow, was that eye opening. The MSDS called for opening windows and/or using a fan to ventilate the air. There was no mention of what was used to fragrance the product or what provided its color. What I found most interesting was the comment “without reported adverse health incidence in diverse population groups, including extensive use by inmates of U.S. Federal prisons in cleaning operations.” Glad to know the product being used in my daughter's happy little preschool class was considered safe because inmates at the Federal prisons weren’t showing reactions. I showed the MSDS to the school administrator and relayed my conversation and offered to pay for a replacement cleaner. My little girl no longer had trouble with circle time.
Why Should I Be Concerned About Cleaners and Chemicals?
According to the World Health Organization, over 30% of the global burden of disease in children can be attributed to environmental factors and that some evidence suggests a link between exposure to certain environmental chemicals during childhood and an increased risk in adulthood of cancer and heart disease.
Several studies including one published by the American Journal of Public Health showed that 12.6% of randomly selected participants reported hypersensitivity to chemicals while the California Department of Health Services found that 15.9% of their participants showed hypersensitivity.
Some studies demonstrate that chemically sensitive individuals have little or no brain barrier to protect them from low-level chemical exposures thereby allowing greater access to the brain of chemically sensitive people. In addition, these individuals may have a slower detoxification process.
Children are at greater risk of reacting to certain types of chemicals because they have a lower center of gravity (where chemical residues wind up), have frequent hand-to-mouth activity, and weigh less than adults. To read a case study compiled by Harvard Medical School about a four-year-old girl with chemical sensitivities, click here.
What Chemicals Should Be Avoided?
According to the EPA more than 60 million Americans – roughly one-fifth of the population - spend their days inside school buildings as students, faculty, staff, and administration. According to Green Living, the following items should be eliminated:
1. Antibacterial cleaners – including hand soap because they often contain triclosan which poses health concerns such as weakened immune systems and hormone disruption. There is also evidence that when triclosan is mixed with chlorinated water, chloroform, which is a suspected carcinogenic is formed. It was detected in nearly 75% of urinary samples in the 2,517 individuals participating in the study. There is also a belief that the overuse of antibacterial cleaners has contributed to the rise in allergies and asthma. Regular soap kills 99.4 percent of germs while Antibacterial soap kills 99.6 percent.
2. Air Fresheners - According to the EPA there are four basic ingredients in air fresheners - formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p- dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants. They are also highly flammable and strong irritants to eyes, skin, and throat. In addition, a connection has been made with decreased lung function and the use of air fresheners that contain 1,4 dichlorobenzene. The EPA recommends baking soda. At home, we use essential oils and a diffuser.
3. Carpet and upholstery shampoo – The main ingredient perchloroethylene is a known carcinogen and another ingredient ammonium hydroxide can cause distress to the eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
What Should My School Use?
Switching to “greener” cleaners can have a positive impact on schools. For instance, Pittsburgh school staff members have reported that fewer students have been going home because of asthma symptoms or reactions to chemicals since their school switched to more environmentally friendly products. In addition, the Coalition for Healthier Schools notes that when schools reduce their use of chemicals, they often see behavior and attendance improve.
The Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Society of America recommends the following tips to freshen your air:
1. Identify and remove sources of bad odor.
2. Use natural minerals like baking soda or borax on garbage cans and other common odor sources.
3. Open your windows. Indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air.
4. Add drops of orange, lemon, or lavender organic essential oils on cotton balls and leave them around the house.
5. Simmered spices such as cinnamon and cloves can help alleviate odors.
Treating Chemical Sensitivities
It’s best to talk to your health care provider to determine the best method for you. Sima Ash of Healing 4 Soul suggests drinking pure water out of a glass, eating organic as often as possible, and wearing natural fabrics such as cotton or silk. To get more information or to schedule an appointment , please call our office at (800) 669-0358 or send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Recommended Books
1. Is This Your Child's World Written by Dr. Rapp, a board-certified environmental medical specialist and pediatric allergist for children. Dr. Rapp provides examples and illustrations of how children are affected by chemicals, pesticides, and foods in their school environment. She provides solutions to issues faced by schools. This would be a great book to provide to a teacher, principal, or superintendent of your school.
2. Chemical Sensitivity This book is a quick read and provides an excellent overview of chemical sensitivity by Sherry Rogers M.D.
References
http://www.dienviro.com/index.aspx?lobid=958
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/104/greenclean
http://www.aft.org/topics/health-safety/downloads/RighttoKnow_Custodial.pdf
http://www.nb.lung.ca/schools/3000e/ehi_hzrdmtrls_e.htm
http://www.planetark.com/products/PACleaningProdFactSheet.pdf