KML News Blast

Household products safety

The Household Products Database provides health effects and safe handling information about common household products -- for consumers. What about that shampoo you're using? or the ink for your printer? the flea/tick control for your dog? This free database, provided by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, can be searched or browsed by product, manufacturer, ingredient, or health effect. For each product, the database lists/describes any acute health effects, chronic health effects, and carcinogenicity (potential to cause cancer); provides handling/disposal information; and gives a list of ingredients with each ingredient linked to additional chemical and related information.

The information in the database comes from Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that companies are required to compile so that employees know the hazards to which they are regularly exposed, so that employers can assure safe handling and storage, and so that emergency personnel can control and respond to hazardous situations.

However, consumers are not always exposed to the same risk as employees. Some products, especially personal care products like shampoo and deodorant, ARE used daily by consumers. However, the consumer who is painting a room once a year is not affected by risk in the same way as someone who paints every day at work or who works in a factory that makes paint. While this needs to be kept in mind while using the database, the Household Products Database is a great way to be informed about safety and handling of the products we take for granted and often handle carelessly.