Creating Healthier Indoor Environments

One of the biggest health hazards today is indoor air pollution. In some cases, air inside a building can be as much as 100 times more polluted than outside. If you ever have walked into a building and started coughing from the distinct odor of cleaners, it is likely the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are triggering your reaction. VOCs are a class of substances that evaporate easily and react in the atmosphere with sunlight and heat creating an unhealthy breathing environment.
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The very air you breathe could be lowering your life expectancy. According to a study by the U.K. government, air pollution can lower life expectancy by seven to eight months in the general population. In people who are exposed to the worst pollution and are especially sensitive, that reduction could jump up to 9 years. That's a huge amount -- almost as much as the life expectancy reduction from smoking cigarettes daily. Just think, if the average life expectancy is around 78 years, then a nine-year loss due to air pollution represents an 11.5% reduction. The American Lung Association estimates that 164 million U.S. citizens breathe air that is unhealthy. But when you really start to think about it, most of the air you breathe, you breathe indoors. By taking action to avoid the outdoors on low air quality days and by taking steps in your home and office to improve the air, you can be breathing healthier air in no time.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most effective way to reduce indoor air pollution is to reduce or eliminate the sources harmful chemical emissions. Sources of chemical emissions may include cleaning products, furnishings and furniture, flooring, cabinetry, paint, textiles and building materials. Though federal, state or local law does not regulate product emissions, numerous government and private programs, including public health agencies, have recommended minimal exposure levels for indoor pollutants.

The VOCs in cleaning products can also contribute to smog formation in outdoor air. General-purpose cleaning products have been estimated to contribute approximately 8 percent of total nonvehicular VOC emissions in California.
http://www.premierinc.com/safety/topics/epp/downloads/04-us-epa-green-cleaners.doc

Health Problems Caused by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Many factors determine if people get sick from exposure to indoor pollutants, including the type of pollutant, its concentration, the duration of exposure, the method of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or dermal absorption) and the individual sensitivities of those exposed. Building or home parameters, such as the amount of ventilation, age of the building, indoor temperature and humidity levels, can also have an impact. Immediate or Acute Health Effects include: Headaches; Eye, nose and throat irritation; Allergic skin reaction like a rash; Difficulty breathing;Nausea and/or vomiting; Confusion; Loss of coordination; Dizziness; Fatigue; Nosebleeds; Selling bio-based cleaners will become a huge advantage.

In 1989, the EPA estimated that the fumes produced by common household cleaners were three times more likely to cause cancer than other air pollutants.

A 2007 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that exposure to cleaning products accounts for 15 percent of all asthma cases.

The Solution: Clean with Plant-Based Cleaning Products

Use vegetable-based cleaning products instead of harsh chemical cleaners. Vegetable-based cleaners (like Hero) are becoming more popular every day. More and more makers of cleaning products are introducing vegetable-based products to the market.

http://blog.sierratradingpost.com/eco-friendly-recycle-reuse-environment-earth-reduce/10-tips-for-green-spring-cleaning/  

Hero: Keeps indoor air as clean as the surfaces it cleans.