Four and one half million Canadians suffer from an environmental illness. These individuals may be affected by chemical residues they come into contact with that are not classified as hazardous under household or commercial legislation.

Often chemical sensitivities derived from cleaners happen in the following ways:

• Portions of the cleaners evaporate and become a part of the air we breathe. Chemically, these compounds are described as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and very low concentrations can affect sensitive individuals. Household cleaners are normally restricted to 10% of the cleaner by volume whereas commercial cleaners are not restricted.
• Chemical residues come into contact with the skin from using cleaners or from residues left on cleaned surfaces. The health risks associated with combined ingredients are only defined as per WHMIS/OSHA or consumer regulatory requirements. For individuals with chemical-sensitivities to petrochemical based ingredients, pesticides or preservatives, there is no current method of determining which products are safe by a scientifically reproducible method.

Many concerned individuals have turned to all natural cleaning products. Unfortunately there are no definitions of all natural and even petrochemical based ingredients are, after all, derived from nature.

How does ECOgent benefit chemically-sensitive individuals?

Firstly, ECOgent contains less than 0.05 % Volatile Organic Compounds, which significantly decreases the amount of pollutant chemically sensitive individuals are forced to breathe.

ECOgent ingredients are all derived from renewable resources. ECOgent does not add any preservatives or pesticides to extend shelf life. Many preservatives have triggered reactions in sensitive individuals. Many of the ingredients in ECOgent are cosmetic grade ingredients designed specifically to lower skin and eye irritancy. ECOgent incorporates natural source Lactic Acid buffered to replace builders such as phosphates and EDTA, and to negate the necessity to add a preservative. In addition, buffered natural source lactic acid has proven to be suitable for use in skin care products because of its skin rejuvenating properties, low irritation potential and moisturizing properties.

From a regulatory and reporting perspective ECOgent has the following properties:

• Calculated oral toxicity ECOgent concentrate: 12526mg/l. Water has an oral toxicity of 14500mg/l. Therefore ECOgent is not orally toxic and poses little risk to children or pets who might inadvertently ingest ECOgent.
• ECOgent contains less than 0.05% Volatile Organic Compounds. ECOgent does not contribute to the problem of adding airborne contaminates that staff and building occupants are forced to breath.
• ECOgent, by independent laboratory review, has been classified as not hazardous under WHMIS/OSHA and consumer regulatory requirements.
• The Environmental Illness Society of Canada list ECOgent in its EI friendly directory.

ECOgent was designed for use by chemically-sensitive individuals. We have been extremely encouraged by consumer comments; however, we must encourage individuals with extreme sensitivities to satisfy themselves as to ECOgent's suitability.

Review ECOgent's Unique Cleaning Feature Benefits for
Glass & Surface • Washrooms • Floors • Carpets

We have done research combining ECOgent with other cleaning components:
The Benefits of Using ECOgent with Bleach
The Benefits of Using ECOgent with Baking Soda

Check out ECOgent's Unique Environmental Benefits 

RETURN TO PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS PAGE

Read and respond to our Discussion Paper on 
THE ADVISABILITY OF CLEANING ENVIRONMENTAL SURFACES 
IN HEALTH CARE AND OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES 
WITH DISINFECTANT CLEANERS

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