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NonToxic / Toxic :: Might As Well Toss A Coin
By Thomas C. Davis Jr | February 15, 2009
You have seen the signs and claims as much as I have. Nontoxic! A sense of relief issues forth and we, more or less, feel we are safe. It doesn’t matter what product we’re talking about, or what service, the fear or measure of security is there once we see the nontoxic claim.
Being a dry cleaner (Greensleeves) of a truly nontoxic and environmentally safe process and plant, and, I’ll admit, a bit of an environmental sentinel, I see the signs everywhere on dry cleaners. Nontoxic! I know better but the public does not and it irritates me to see these dry cleaners hanging out these nontoxic signs with utter impunity. One store (or more) I’ve seen actually has a picture of Rainbow Trout swimming into a dry cleaning machine as a demonstration of how safe their solvent is. The sign says, “So safe even Rainbow Trout can live in it.”
First their solvent is Isaparafin Hydrocarbon, a toxic synthetic petroleum distillate - like virtually all petroleum related substances. Second, it is devoid of any free oxygen, a must for any fish to live in since fish need oxygen and they obtain it from the liquid they are ’swimming” in - their form of breathing.
This assaulted my sense of dignity as an environmentally safe dry cleaner that goes to great lengths to make sure every aspect of our plant and process is safe for the environment and, at the same time, gives us an outstanding cleaning without harming the environment, the person who wears it or our employees that do the cleaning. The picture of those trout got stuck in my head. I knew the claim was ridiculous but how could they get away with it?
Looking into it I found some rather disturbing “loopholes” in the country’s labeling laws. Unless a substance is proven to be toxic through official studies and tests, it is considered nontoxic and can be so labeled. The substance can be a deadly poison but unless it had been officially designated a toxic substance through proper studies it can be labeled, advertised, broadcast to the whole world that it is nontoxic.
Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware, read between the lines. Read the labels and get to the details. Look for substances you don’t know and put the item back on the shelf. Almost absurd advice in today’s world of products with so many chemicals or so many unfamiliar names that even a qualified chemist can’t tell you if everything in the product is safe 0r n0t. And that’s just the way corporate America wants it.
The Good News. The internet has opened so many avenues of awareness to the common people like you and me that we can find out the real deal in a matter of seconds - if we take the time to look. There are so many watchdog sites that are out there spreading the news and opening the truth to everyone that we have little excuse for purchasing a product or service that isn’t safe for us.
One refuge of truth and a site I heartily recommend is focused on safety for products in the arts but covers many products and services. Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety and the offer fact sheets on many substances here: http://artscraftstheatersafety.org/datasheets.html
There are many other similar sites out there and if you can’t find information on the substance or service you are looking for, write to some of the people that run these sites, they’ll be glad to help. Or write to me and I’ll do whatever I can to find the information for you.
The important thing here is to not use or stop using any service or product that has toxins in it. It most certainloy is not good for your health.
Topics: Green America, Green Living |
February 16th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Interesting analysis, and one which I mostly agree with. However, carrying your thought a step further, you are using Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and claiming to be green. There are alot of people, organizations, and agencies who would find your claims to be as far fetched as the Hydrocarbon guys you are bashing. People in glass houses……
A little research would turn up the fashpoint of D5, the toxicity studies, the 10PPM TWA exposure limits, and Canada’s efforts against D5. Everyone within the environmental community would concur that ONLY water and liquid carbon dioxide are environmentally benign. Meantime, it might be better if you tone down your boastful, and skewed claims, or consider switching from your D5 silicone based solvent to something that actually is environmentally friendly. I see you are in NY, you would be on thin ice making these claims in Cali.
February 16th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Hyprocrite! You are NOT green;
Drink your solvent…would you!
I ‘ll drink CO2…Perrier,anyone?!
February 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Drink my solvent? Why Not! Follow this link if you dare! http://www.thegreendrycleaner.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=200008
Speak of hypocrites? Gee, a look at your eMail address shows you work for a chemical engineering company that has a questionable record even though they are putting themselves out there as trying to do some good. Splitting gases, by products….
One thing I do is I make an effort rather than toss the BS from my cushy corporate chair. What have you done, you yourself that is?
While we may not be perfect we are trying, at least!
February 17th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Gee, It looks like another CO2 cleaner trying to lay claim to the green throne. Dear associate, your process is not environmentally benign. How about the V.O.C.’s in the detergent you need to use to clean with? How about the energy consumption? Do you at least opt for green alternatives? What is your secondary process? Yes, don’t deny having one.
No Process is perfect, certainly not CO2 that usually doesn’t fully clean problem cases. Ands Canada is looking into the use of silicone in personal care products as a po0ssible health control issue not into the dry cleaning end. That just proves it is safe for cleaning with. If it used by the loads in cremes and deodorants it is certainly safe to clean clothes with. In Cali GreenEarth is quite popular and recently approved by CARB, I give you one credit that I don’t most, at least you are making an effort in the right direction. That is what it is all about. Making an effort that is right instead of tossing the BS and doing nothing.
Nothing is perfect, yet. Wet cleaning is the closest but the public is not ready for full wet cleaning or those like you and me would be full wet cleaners, it is cheap and effective. But you chose your course and I, mine. Give me the respect I give you because we have both earned it.