Why Chemical Sanitizers are Dangerous
June 16, 2020 Leave a Comment
If you pay attention to the ingredients listed in commercial sanitizing products, you'll see that the vast majority of them are full of chemicals. In many cases, not all of the toxic chemicals used are even listed. That's because there are no specific laws in place that require the manufacturer of these products to list ingredients considered to be proprietary. In short, there is no real way of knowing what additional chemicals are being used in sanitizers that could pose a threat to people and the environment. Countless Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents and booklets have warned against the hazards of chemical sanitizers. One of these, the EPA's "Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Curriculum for Early Care and Education", correlates to the increased risks of these products leading to cancer and other illnesses. The results of these studies are shocking, researchers estimate that 5% of childhood cancer and 30% of childhood asthma are related to chemical exposures. The chemicals are often found in the sanitizing products used in our schools and health facilities. The guide goes on to state that " . . . the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated" in regards to the chemicals that reach the environment by improper disposal techniques."
This report is just the tip of the iceberg. FDA reports support this information and further claims from the EPA are continually released in an attempt to warn of the dangers of sanitizers containing toxic chemicals. There are, of course, plenty of products on the market that claim to be "green" or "eco-friendly." Some of these products are better for the environment and are safer for people, but the public can easily be misled. It's easy to assume products that make these claims are completely safe and non-toxic. That isn't always the case. While there are some guidelines in place regarding how these products are marketed, there is still a bit of uncertainty about the use of their terminology, allowing some companies to refer to their products as "green" or "eco-friendly." As we already mentioned, proprietary ingredients or trade secrets don't have to be listed on these products. The Federal Trade Commission has guidelines for green marketing to promote fairness and accuracy in the marketing of such products. They force manufacturers to be more specific in the statements they make regarding the safety of their products. When a company makes claims about eco-safety, they must be able to demonstrate a product is biodegradable and support the claim with documented proof. The bottom line, however, is that claiming a product is environmentally friendly is no guarantee that it's safe for people or even the environment.
So, does this mean we can't trust the products we buy are free of chemicals? Not necessarily. There are many cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products on the market that are safe for people and the environment. Knowing which of these products are safe, or at least safer, usually requires a bit of research on the part of the consumer. Are the products made with sustainable ingredients? Does the company have a transparent approach to advertising their products? Have the products undergone studies and independent testings to ensure that they are free of toxic chemicals and safe for the environment? These are some of the things to look at when considering products.
GenEon is Committed to Safe Cleaning and Non-Toxic Sanitizing and Disinfecting
At GenEon, we've made it our mission to bring effective, non-toxic sanitizers, and disinfectants to you. Our cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants are made with a process known as electrochemical activation (ECA). It's simple. One of the natural minerals that we use as a catalyst is salt. Salt is a compound comprised of sodium and chloride. Sodium ions are positively charged and chloride ions are negatively charged. GenEon Onsite Generators expose these ions to a low electrical charge. The positive side of the charge electrochemically converts the chloride ion (Cl) to hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which is a powerful sanitizer and disinfectant. The negative side of the charge electrochemically converts the sodium ion (Na) into sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which is a cleaning compound commonly found in soaps and detergents. Unlike many other OSG systems, GenEon's system is a Blended Stream System that uses both versions in the same solution. The hypochlorous solution is represented as Free Available Chlorine (FAC) that has 80-200 times the sanitizing power of chlorine bleach. Since it is produced at a near-neutral pH, it won't bleach out furniture or clothes. The process is sustainable and the resulting product is safe for people, animals, and the environment.
Our products are made by the User using a technology known as on-site generation (OSG). This means that the user makes the cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants as they need them using on-site generation like our InstaFlow. This means there are less waste and no need to store potentially dangerous chemical-based cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants in your place of business. In conjunction with an advanced delivery system like our Mist, you have a complete system for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting that is cost-effective and non-toxic.
Our goal at GenEon has always been to manufacture cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products that are both effective and sustainable. As we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to reopen states throughout the U.S., we will be more aware of the importance of proper cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. At GenEon, we want to help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria while maintaining our focus on safety for people, pets, and the environment. To learn more about our products or how you can begin using them in your home or business, fill out the form on our website. We will be happy to get back to you. Together, we can make a difference.
