2.3 - National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database


Household Products:
1) Elmers Extra Strength Glue-Stick - toxicity rating 2
2) Meyer's Clean Day Multi Surface Concentrate - toxicity rating 1


I was not surprised to find out about the toxicity ratings for both of these items.
It is interesting to me though, that the label on the glue-stick says it is "non-toxic" but the Household Product Database states this product says there is no information on significant adverse effects. Which means either there is no data, or it has not been tested.  So it makes me question what does "non-toxic" really mean? And how regulated are consumer items. How safe are we?

I feel that moving forward, I will want to do my background research on a majority of consumer products I purchase in the future. Although it may be time consuming, it is in my best interest. I also think that all consumers deserve to know when or where potential health hazards are, or any relevant information to our risks.

Comments

  1. Ayla EvinsSeptember 6, 2018 at 2:55 PM

    Hi Jenay -
    That is so interesting that they can put "non-toxic" on the glue-stick, yet there is no data to prove that. I guess it does make some sense though because there is no regulation on products like these so they can write whatever they want on it. It definitely makes me want to do more research on products before using them since you can't really trust that the information on the label is accurate.

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  2. Terrianne GSeptember 7, 2018 at 6:00 PM

    Wow! Thanks for your post - it really makes me wonder what other regulations are not being guided. I wish the US would regulate more of these types of products to the general audience in educating them that the more they buy their products, the more potential toxic harm they are causing. I use that brand of dish washing soap - until one time, I was microwaving a plastic container (I know, shameful) and my food...tasted like peony-scented soap (I bought the seasonal peony one). From that moment forward, I stopped using that brand to wash my dishes with and stuck to a non-scented soap instead. I did view that sometimes the additives of flavors and scents are the reasons why products are toxic in the first place because they are "enhancing" the scent / flavor with more additives.

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