by R.L Hanlon

Created on: May 12, 2008

Browsing the cleaning aisle of the supermarket you'll find so many items that are designed to tackle many areas of the home. Not only do most of them contain the same or similar chemicals, but most of them are also classified as hazardous waste.

Most of us are becoming concerned of the effects these household chemicals have on our bodies and our family, but we should also be concerned about the affect they may be having on our environment. No matter how safe they are used, how they are stored and how one sticks to the manufacturers guidelines, common household chemicals are still effecting our communities and our environment.

Following are ways that the use and disposal of common household chemicals are affecting our environment.

WATER POLLUTION

Storm drains that are designed to remove excess water after a downpour take water directly to our waterways. Our waterways are our local streams and rivers and eventually lead to the sea.

Many people still think its safe to dispose of hazardous chemicals down these storm drains, not realizing the impact and damage they're having on our environment. Household chemicals are used in the garden, on our vehicles and in our homes to clean various surfaces and objects. These are collected by the excess water and end up in our storm drains too.

Some people also flush household chemicals down the toilet thinking this is the safer alternative than the drain. Sewerage and other waste water used in the laundry, bathroom and kitchen end up at treatment plants. This is then treated with more chemicals to try and make it cleaner and is then released into our rivers and oceans.

The chemicals contained in common household chemicals, once released into our waterways cause algae to grow on plants. The alga then smothers the plants and their natural growth causing them to die.

AIR POLLUTION

Many household cleaners and aerosols have been found to contain carcinogens, cancer causing agents. Our homes and their designs continue to develop to ensure they're airtight and energy efficient. This also makes sure dangerous pollutants stay in our immediate environments longer and have nowhere to escape.

Many things including open fires, smoking and common household chemicals cause pollutants in our homes.

EFFECTS ON OUR ECO-SYSTEMS

An ecosystem is where the environment, including plants, water and animals all interact together in their individual climates and environments. Dangerous household chemicals that are released into our waterways are killing plants and polluting water that animals rely on to feed and live amongst.

We are seeing small ecosystems affected from the pollutants contained in household chemicals.

We are already witness to the many affects household chemicals are already having on our environment. The only way to battle the problem is to seek safer alternatives for cleaning our homes and intimate environments to ensure we do not further damage the environment in the future.

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