I'm going to have a colonoscopy in a couple of days. I know, TMI (too much information). The only reason I bring it up is because I have spent the last 10 years of my life warning people about the unsafe ingredients found in everyday household products. There is an assumption that if the label is pretty and it's advertised on TV and your favorite grocery store sells it, it has to be okay to use. That just isn't a safe assumption.
As you may know, the day before a colonoscopy is spent preparing for the procedure. My doctor wrote a prescription for a powder which I will mix with water in a gallon jug and consume all day long. The purpose is to cleanse my digestive system so the doctor can see any abnormalities without any obstructions. The primary ingredient in the cleansing formula is propylene glycol. Keep reading you'll see why I find this disconcerting.
I want to encourage you to read the warning labels and find the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for those products you bring into your home. I'll help you sort through the junk under the kitchen sink and the stuff in your medicine cabinet and figure out what's what.
Some very common chemicals and chemical compositions used in household cleaning products, furniture, mattresses, children's toys, paints and coatings, air fresheners and clothing that can cause health issues and which should be avoided are:
- Formaldehyde
- Chlorine (PVC)
- Benzene
- Ethylene Glycol
- Propylene Glycol
- Ammonia
- Crystalline Silica
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Mercury
I will talk about most of these ingredients in future posts but right now I'm focusing on propylene glycol for very personal reasons.
PG or MPG, as propylene glycol is commonly referred to, is used in anti-freeze, to make polyester compounds; and as solvents in the paint and plastics industries. It is also found in cosmetics and hair products acting as a humectant (moisture retainer). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified propylene glycol as an additive that is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) for use in food. It is used to absorb extra water and maintain moisture in certain medicines or food products. It is a solvent for food colors and flavors. Even though it is clear to the FDA that exposure to large amounts of propylene glycol is a health hazard, they suggest low levels of exposure can be considered safe.
After I ingest a gallon of liquid containing propylene glycol and "cleanse" my digestive system, regardless of what the FDA is saying, I'm signing off on any further exposure. Sounds to me like we need to reconsider what "generally recognized as safe" really means.
Cheers – bottoms up, so to speak.
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