Safe Home Quiz

Safe Home Quiz
1.According to the National Safety Council, more children under four die of accidental poisonings in U.S. homes than: a. anywhere else in the world. b. are accidentally killed by guns at home. c. get cavities. d. all of the above. Answer: D
2. The most common cause of in-home poisonings is: a. drain cleaner b. dishwashing detergent c. arsenic d. old leftovers Answer: B. There are over 2.1 MILLION accidental poisonings by dish soap per year. The number one offender: Dawn Dish Detergent (The Top Selling Brand).
3. According to a 15-year study printed in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" which people suffer a higher death rate from cancer: a. Women who work at home. b. Men who work with asbestos. c. People who work in factories. d. Married people. Answer: A. Women who stay/work at home have a 55% greater risk of developing cancer than those who work outside the home. The majority of all cancers are triggered by exposure to hazardous substances in the environment (as reported to the President by the Toxic Substances Strategy Committee in 1980).
4. "Out gassing" is a term that the EPA uses for: a. Chemicals that leak toxic vapors through their containers and filter into the air. b. The exhaust that leaks from a garage into your home. c. The air that comes out of the bathroom after your spouse exits. Answer: A.
5.The EPA says the air we breath in the average household is: a. Safer than any outdoor air pollution. b. Twice as bad as any outdoor pollution. c. 3-5 times more hazardous than any outdoor air pollution. Answer: C. The EPA reports that because of common household chemicals, the air found in the average American household is 3 to 70 times more hazardous to your health than outdoor air pollutants. Additionally, Indoor air pollution is a suspected culprit in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which will take about 5,000 U.S. lives this year (Poisoning Our Children, Nobel Press)
6. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that 150 common household chemicals have been linked to: a. Allergies b. Childhood cancers c. Learning disorders d. Birth defects e. All of the above Answer: E. The Centers for Disease Control advises that there's a suspected link between the environment and the astonishing increase in birth defects, childhood cancer, learning disorders and childhood asthma in the last 40 years.
7. The California Public Interest Research Group reports of 70,000 new chemicals that have been introduced since chemical warfare testing in World War II, thousands are now used as ingredients to: a. Clean your clothes. b. Clean your teeth. c. Clean your floor. d. Clean your hair. e. All of the above. Answer: E. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities.
8. Formaldehyde is a cheap preservative used in: a. Embalming. b. Biology classes across America. c. A majority of the personal & home hygiene products we buy at the grocery store. d. "a" and "b." e. All of the above. Answer: E. Formaldehyde which is found in many toiletries, cosmetics and cleaning supplies is a potential carcinogen. It is also suspected of causing birth defects and genetic damage. It can be hidden under 27 different names (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health) ( i.e.: Quaternium 15)
9. In consumer products the most harmful ingredients are: a. The "active" ingredients. b. The "inactive" ingredients. c. None of the above. d. It depends on the product. Answer: D. Active ingredients in products like Lysol, Tide and Cascade can be very harmful. However, in some products the inactive ingredients can actually be more hazardous to your health than the active ingredients. Interestingly enough, you may not be able to tell fro the label as companies are NOT REQUIRED to list all of the inactive ingredients in their products which are covered by the same "trade secret laws" as Coca-Cola.
10. The primary suspects of breast cancer (the #1 killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54) are: a. Hereditary factors. b. Improper diet & exercise. c. Laundry detergents, bleach, household cleaners and pesticides. Answer: C. There has been a 26% increase in breast cancer since 1982. Ask: What about your family? Are you ready to seek alternatives to the probable health hazards you're currently using? Why would anyone use toxic products if they knew there were safe, cost-effective alternatives?
11.BONUS QUESTION: List below anyone you know who you think would like to get safe products for free every month (one point per person listed). Don't worry, we are not going to collect this paper!