Many of us use toxic chemicals in everyday life. Sometimes we are aware of it, sometimes not. Many actions which appear to be harmless actually involve the use of harmful chemicals. Household cleaners, garden pesticides, paints, batteries, detergents, even flea powders can be hazardous to our health and the environment. Detergents, degreasers, stain removers and pesticides have made our homes miniature chemical factories.
Hazardous chemicals endanger the environment by contaminating our groundwater, lakes and oceans.
If these hazardous products in the home are ingested, absorbed through the skin or inhaled they can cause illness that may only appear years later. One of the biggest culprits in ocean pollution is phosphates, common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. Algae slimes dense enough to suffocate marine life have been swelling around the world, especially in coastal bays. Some marine experts call this type of ocean pollution a silent, global epidemic that if unabated could destroy American's most scenic and commercially valuable waters. From Long Island Sound to the Santa Monica Bay, nutrients have devastated many popular fishing spots and shellfish beds.