1. Case Study Chemical verse Green/ Natural Presenters: Anjanie, Roya, Stephanie, & Kenisha “WE CLEAN OUR HOMES TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE AND HEALTHY. BUT THE CLEANERS WE USE MAY PUT OUR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AT RISK.” (David Suzuki Foundation, 2012).

2. Agenda  Introduction  Answering our 10 Questions  Video Clips  Action Plan  Class Discussion

3. Importance of Sanitizing our Child Care Environment Number one factor: Prevent infections/illnesses  Decrease the spread bacteria, germs viruses, fungi, & mold  Regular, daily cleaning is essential, ensuring the safety & health of our children & staff members  Remove dirt, oil, grease & other sticky substances from surfaces  Removal of dust, pollen, & other particles out of the indoor environment (Rose, 2008).

4. Did you know … ?  More than $275 million is spent on house cleaning products in a year ! (David Suzuki Foundation, 2012).  Manufactures are not legal required to reveal all ingredients & hazards in household cleaning products

5. YOU, as a consumer purchasing products on a daily basis should be aware of the content presented in your items !

6. Questions 1. What are the “green” cleaning products? 2. What are the effects of natural or green products on Early Childhood Educators and children’s health? 3. What are ingredients in natural or greens cleaning products? 4. What are the advantages of using natural green products within a childcare centre & in homes with children? 5. Should we promote natural or green products to the general public in order to enhance their knowledge on safe, household cleaning? 6. Should chemical products be used around children & ECE’s? Why? 7. What are possible short & long term effects of using cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals on the ECE’s & children? 8. What are some ways that the effects can be reversed if any? 9. How effective are chemical based products that are used in Early Childhood settings? 10. How often can the chemical be used before causing possible harm to the body?

7. What are the “green” cleaning products?  Described as “environmentally friendly products” (Rose, 2008).  In Canada, there’s a third party (Eco Logo) known as the eco certifications which assist companies becoming recognized as “green”. (David Suzuki Foundation, 2012).  Examples: HEPA filter vacuum cleaners, fiber cloths & mops (Rose, 2008).

8. What are the effects of natural or green products on Early Childhood Educators and children’s health? So far, there has not been any negative reports on natural or green products on children’s health. Natural & Green products are considered to be much safer to use. However the cost of these products are more expensive. Therefore, if families aren’t able to afford these natural or green products, they will have no other choice but to purchase the chemical based cleaning products.

9. What are ingredients in natural or greens cleaning products?  Botanical ingredients (e.g. Thyme oil)  Borax  Baking Soda  Vinegar  Tap water

10. What are the advantages of using natural/ green products within a childcare centre & in homes with children?  Using natural or green products around our children will reduce their contact with encountering harsh chemicals  Reduces the spread of infections/illnesses  Sanitizing & disinfecting the child care centre & homes

11. Should we promote natural or green products to the general public in order to enhance their knowledge on safe, household cleaning? Yes ! Many consumers do not know read the labels of their cleaning products or have an understanding of what the ingredient is. The most problematic issue is that some companies do not reveal the ingredients that is contained in their products. We need to encourage consumers to be critical & read the labels of their products that they’re purchasing. Most importantly, we need to push the government to enforce a policy which all companies must include every ingredient that is put into their product.

12. David Suzuki's Queen of Green on Cleaning – Introduction Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyhyEQSo-jQ

15. Should chemical products be used around children & ECE’s? Why? There have been numerous reports which indicate that chemical based cleaning products are “linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, asthma, & severe allergies” (David Suzuki Foundation, 2012). There are many chemicals, toxins, & carcinogens which can be harmful to human body. However, chemical products are more cheaper & easy accessible.

16. What are possible short & long term effects of using cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals on the ECE’s & children? Short Term EffectsLong Term Effects http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/the-dirt-on- toxic-chemicals-in-household-cleaning-products/ http://davidsuzuki.org/blogs/queen-of-green/2012/04/end- your-toxic-relationship-with-household-cleaners/

17. What are some ways that the effects can be reversed if any?

18. How effective are chemical based products that are used in Early Childhood settings?

19. How often can the chemical be used before causing possible harm to the body?

20. Case Study # 1

21. Case Study # 2

22. Action Plan

23. Identify the issue The fact of the matter is Canadian consumers (whether you’re a parent or a child care supervisor) are not even aware of the ingredients contained in their cleaning products.

24. Individual Problem-Solving & Self-Reliance  Be critical consumer  Individual investigation of products (e.g. reading the ingredients)  Study the advantages and disadvantages of ingredients of products  Be aware of the differences between chemicals, green and natural products

25. Collective Self-Help Reach out to ECEs,supervisors & parents to set up a day in a month to get together once a month to share their:  Experiences  Knowledge  Resources  Ideas

26. Community Action Hold classes within the local community centres in regards to health promotion & what it means for children & families.  These classes will educate them about their household cleaning products  Guide them in purchasing safe household products when handling around with their children  The advantages & disadvantages of chemicals & green, natural products  Professionals within ECE, researchers and members of the community collectively doing an action research to identify what products are safest and most effective to use

27. Societal Change  Changing policies and regulations about what cleaning products companied are obliged to reveal about the ingredients in the products  Making policies in FDA for companies to notify their consumers about every hazardous ingredients in the products

28. Let’s make a change NOW ! Click here ! “Tell Canada's Health Minister to come clean about the toxic ingredients in our household cleaners” http://action2.davidsuzuki.org/comeclean

29. The End ! Happy Cleaning !

30. Reference Advancing environmental health in child care settings. (2010, January). Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment. Retrieved from http://www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/sites/healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/files/CPCHE-AdvEnvHealthChildCare-lowres.pdf http://www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/sites/healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/files/CPCHE-AdvEnvHealthChildCare-lowres.pdf Fryer, P. J., Christian, G. K., & Liu, W. W. (2006). How hygiene happens: physics and chemistry of cleaning. International Journal Of Dairy Technology, 59(2), 76-84. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0307.2006.00249.x Green Clean. (n.d.). Household cleaning products may do more harm then good. Retrieved 02 13, 2012, from Green Clean Certified: http://www.greencleancertified.com/green-cleaning-facts/HOUSEHOLD-CLEANING- PRODUCTS-MAY-DO-MORE-HARM-THAN-GOODhttp://www.greencleancertified.com/green-cleaning-facts/HOUSEHOLD-CLEANING- PRODUCTS-MAY-DO-MORE-HARM-THAN-GOOD Mendell, M. J. (2007). Indoor residential chemical emissions as risk factors for respiratory and allergic effects in children: a review. Indoor Air, 17(4), 259-277. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00478.x Mercola,J. (2012, January). Be careful of ‘green' cleaning products as they may not be very green. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/16/toxic-chemicals-in-green-cleaning-products.aspxhttp://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/16/toxic-chemicals-in-green-cleaning-products.aspx Rose, B. (2008). Sanitize safely and effectively: bleach and alternatives in child care Programs. California Child Care Health Program. Retrieved from http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Health_Human_Services/Level_3__Public_Health/9.%20SanitizeSafely_9.09.pdf http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Health_Human_Services/Level_3__Public_Health/9.%20SanitizeSafely_9.09.pdf Searching for a list of ingredients in our home cleaning products. (2012). David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/ 2012/CS_executive_summary.pdf The dirt on toxic chemicals in household cleaning products. (2012). David Suzuki Foundation. http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/the-dirt-on-toxic-chemicals-in-household-cleaning-products/ http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/the-dirt-on-toxic-chemicals-in-household-cleaning-products/ Stay, F. (2008, 04). Do your childs personal care products contain toxins? Retrieved 02 13, 2013, from Proquest: http://search.proquest.com.library.sheridanc.on.ca/docview/210159353http://search.proquest.com.library.sheridanc.on.ca/docview/210159353 Thompson, A. (2007, August). The Truth about ‘green' cleaning products. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/1737-truth-green-cleaning-products.html. http://www.livescience.com/1737-truth-green-cleaning-products.html