Say it's not so, Simple Green!

By badbadivy

I've always loved Simple Green. It cleans grease perfectly, and it's a nifty shade of green. I use it on laundry, to clean counters- you name it. So I was sad to learn today that Simple Green contains ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE), which is on California's list of toxic air contaminants. Apparently EGBE can cause:

Some animal studies indicate that it produces reproductive problems, such as testicular damage, reduced fertility, death of embryos and birth defects. People exposed to high levels of EGBE for several hours have reported nose and eye irritation, headaches, vomiting and a metallic taste in their mouths, studies show.

Oh no! But according to the manufacturers:

Sunshine Makers, based in Huntington Harbour (Orange County), advertises its Simply Green brand as nontoxic and environmentally friendly. In its response to the research group's study, the company said it didn't detail all the chemicals in its products to "protect its formula from piracy." "At the same time, we back up all of our safety, health and environmental claims with independent laboratory test data, which is available to the public for the asking," the statement said.

Conflicting reports, huh? Wish I knew what to think. There's a list of household cleaners that contain this chemical at the bottom of the article. Of course, there's still the old standby cleaners: Dawn Dishwashing Liquid for grease, vinegar or baking soda for nearly everything else. It's important to be informed.

[Via Garden Rant]