Issues > November/December 2003 (#99) > What's up with all these new household cleaning products? Are they safe? Can I trust the claims?

What's up with all these new household cleaning products? Are they safe? Can I trust the claims?

by Samuel Frank

What About Ozone Air Purifiers?

Be forewarned: Ozone’s safety in water does not imply its safety in air. Ozone generators have been sold as air purifiers for almost a century, and manufacturers claim that ozone is effective at safely ridding indoor air of chemical and biological pollutants. However, the EPA has refuted the claims: While ozone may mask odors, it reacts too slowly with certain pollutants to be of use, forms harmful compounds with others, and is of no use in combating dust and pollen (to combat such particles, ozone generators often also include ion generators, which are themselves less effective than actual air filtration). Furthermore, ozone is an actually toxic gas that can damage the lungs and inflame respiratory illness. We cannot recommend ozone air purification.

Recommendation: Thumbs down.

We’ve received a number of questions regarding environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, including best laundry detergents, and products like Oxiclean and Organica’s line. Below, we consider some of the options for keeping clothes and household fresh.

Aquia

A Reader Asks The Green Guide:

I recently heard of a sanitizing appliance called Aquia, by Waterpik. It claims to produce an ozone-rich water that you then spray onto produce to clean it and onto countertops, etc. Their claim is that as the ozone-rich water evaporates it reforms into safe oxygen and sanitizes better than bleach. Have you heard anything about this product? What do you think of their claims? Is there any real scientific evidence to back up the idea? Or is it a lot of overpriced hype?

Sharon

The Green Guide responds:

The Aquia sanitizing system ozonates water, which is then used to kill bacteria—the manufacturer claims 99 percent effectiveness in germ-killing on non-porous surfaces, with no harmful residue, and also claims that the ozonated water is safe to use directly on food. Is ozone—a three-molecule form of oxygen, as opposed to the two-molecule form we breath—safe? Is it effective? While the Green Guide can’t vouch for Aquia in particular, its general principles seem to be sound. Because ozone is an unstable molecule, it does revert back to safe, diatomic oxygen within 20 minutes—and unlike bleach, it leaves no harmful chlorine residuals. Ozone is used in bottled water purification, having been “generally recognized as safe” (or “GRAS”) by the FDA in 1982, and has been used in municipal water plants since 1940. In 1997, ozone was certified GRAS for food disinfection by an independent panel sponsored by the Electric Power Institute; the FDA accepted the panel’s GRAS mark, and in 2001 gave ozone final approval as a food additive. Aquia is not cheap ($149 and up), but no ozone systems are, and Aquia seems to be one of the most affordable. Ozone production requires a significant amount of electricity, though it’s unclear whether that presents a cost problem on a small-scale like the home. We’d recommend shopping around and testing systems yourself before buying any such appliance.

Recommendation: Thumbs up.

 

Organica

A Reader Asks The Green Guide:

I am trying to get information on a particular company's household products and their reputation. Have you ever heard of Organica? Their web address is www.organicainc.com. Please advise.

Ann

The Green Guide responds:

Organica’s full name is Organica Biotech Inc.; as its name suggests, it is a biotechnology company dedicated to environmentally sound, technologically sophisticated approaches to a range of agricultural, waste, and household problems. Organica’s household items include cleaners and water and ground gardening products.

Though the Green Guide does not have the scientific tools to evaluate its products directly, and though the company’s low profile and youth (founded in 2000, commercial production in 2001) have kept its products from being fully evaluated or rated in public Internet forums and elsewhere, it seems like a responsible, innovative company. Our search turned up no complaints. Organica, along with a number of well-regarded environmental businesses and organizations, is a partner of Earth Pledge (earthpledge.org), a group that works for innovative sustainability solutions

Recommendation: Thumbs up.

 

OxiClean and Oxyboost

A Reader Asks The Green Guide:

I really appreciate all the information I receive from the Green Guide. I try to use products that don't pollute me, my family, or the environment. I was wondering if you have any information about products such as OxiClean and Oxy-Boost that use sodium percarbonate. These are touted as being safe products, and I was wondering, are they?

Ela Jiga

The Green Guide Responds:

Found in OxiClean, Oxyboost, and other cleaners and detergents, sodium percarbonate is a powder that combines soda ash (sodium carbonate) with hydrogen peroxide; it uses the peroxide as a bleaching agent, effective on laundry and around the house. It is similar in its function to, but environmentally sounder than, another “oxygen bleach,” sodium perborate, which uses the harmful-to-soil borax. Furthermore, the percarbonate functions at a lower temperature than does the perborate, allowing you to save energy with a cooler wash cycle. It can’t be used with silk or wool however. Like many other cleaning products, sodium percarbonate is harmful if swallowed or inhaled and can cause irritation to the eyes and skin. But while hydrogen peroxide is not safe to touch, inhale, or consume, it is not a carcinogen, nor does it persist in the environment—it is far preferable to chlorine bleach.

Sodium percarbonate products are available in a range of concentrations. Oxy-Boost is among the most concentrated and cheapest available; its manufacturer, Natural Choices, also offers powdered and water-based dilutions for specific uses like laundry, toilet bowls, and drains. OxiClean, “as seen on TV,” doesn’t offer the high concentration of Oxy-Boost, but does offer a similar range of specific-use products. Powdered forms of sodium percarbonate are more stable and last longer than liquids, but specific-use dilutions have additives that help with their particular task.

Recommendation: Thumbs up.

Filed under: Cleaning products, Green cleaning products

Just Ask! | posted November 13, 2003