Consumers may soon have a better understanding of the chemicals in the cleaning products they use to clean. This is especially true in light of recent studies showing that nurses who regularly come into contact with disinfectant substances are more likely to develop lung diseases, including bronchial asthma.
California this month became the first state to require food manufacturers to list chemicals on labels. The law could provide more transparency to the industry and help consumers know if the products they buy contain substances that could harm their health and the environment. The move stems from concerns that some cleaners contain toxic chemicals that can cause health problems in large amounts. In the short term, these chemicals lead to skin and lung irritation. Some studies have shown links to health issues such as hormonal imbalances, asthma, and cancer. However, labels don’t always show what ingredients are inside product bottles. There are no federal regulations that would require manufacturers to disclose all ingredients to the public. The new law requires manufacturers to list product ingredients on company websites by January 1, 2020 and on product labels a year later, helping people avoid products with chemicals of concern, and especially help those people who are sensitive to chemicals that cause allergies or worsening their well-being.