The Air Quality Awareness Week

The air quality awareness week is here! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service are putting efforts together to help all Americans to improve their knowledge of the Air Quality Index (AQI) (a color-coded tool used to communicate the quality of the air to the public). EPA recently strengthened the national ozone standards from 80 parts per billion to 75 parts per billion, but it still needs to determine when the new standards take effect; it is said that if the new standards will take effect today, more than 300 American counties would be in violation. EPA suggests that sensitive people should stay inside on days when the ozone is under “code orange” or higher.

Check the air quality in your area whenever you like on AirNow.

The First Eco Certified Computer

Lenovo’s M57/M57P “Eco” is the first computer that is certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) (the largest certifier of chemical emissions from building materials and furnishings in the U.S.) after going through rigorous testing for up to 2000 chemical emissions.

Eco is the first ThinkCentre computer made with recycled, post-consumer plastics and is EPEAT Gold and Energy Star ® 4.0 rated. The system comes with Intel vPro technology, Core 2 Duo E6550 / E8200 / E8400 Processor, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVD Burner, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, and Windows Vista Business.

I found the news very interesting and promising since it is well known that lots of phthalates (for example) in the environment are coming from electronic and computer products. I hope this kind of certification takes care of that too.

USDA Certified - Cosmetics, Body Care and Personal Care Products

The organic trend is just starting in the cosmetics industry, so be prepared for the same "gold rush" of marketing claims as we've seen in other product categories. The good news is that some regulation exists in the US, check for the USDA Organic logo on cosmetic products that claim to be organic (unfortunately not too many, yet).

USDA uses the following rules to apply its organic seal on cosmetics:

100% organic - "Product must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically produced ingredients. Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent’s name and address."

Organic - "Product must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). Remaining product ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances approved on the National List or nonorganically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form, also on the National List. Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent’s name and address."

Made with organic ingredients - "Products contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and product label can list up to three of the organic ingredients or “food” groups on the principal display panel. For example, body lotion made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients (excluding water and salt) and only organic herbs may be labeled either “body lotion made with organic lavender, rosemary, and chamomile,” or “body lotion made with organic herbs.” Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent’s name and address."

Less than 70% organic ingredients - "Products cannot use the term “organic” anywhere on the principal display panel. However, they may identify the specific ingredients that are USDA-certified as being organically produced on the ingredients statement on the information panel. Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and may not display a certifying agent’s name and address. (Water and salt are also excluded here.)"

For more information go here.

Cosmetics that are using the USDA organic seal are: (last updated August 1st, 2008)

Origins – only some of their products are USDA certified.
Dr. Bronner – only some of their soaps are USDA certified.
Terressentials - USDA certified.
Aubrey Organics - only some of their products are USDA certified.
One Group - only some of their products are USDA certified.
Organic Essence - all of their products are USDA certified.
Nature's Baby Organics - baby products that are USDA certified.

Dont't forget: The USDA Organic Certified products must have displayed the USDA organic seal on them.

Going Green: Product Review of the Week - Baby Wipes

Until I discovered the 7th Gen wipes I have used both Pampers and Huggies. With Pampers, my child got a very bad rush any time when I used them. I used to like Huggies a lot; I never had a problem with them - they were efficient and non-irritating. Now I use 7th Generation and I like them a lot too and not only because they are free of fragrance (Huggies has some wipes free of fragrance too), but they are a little thiner which makes them easier to use. They are free of chlorine, which means that they can biodegrade easier. Some friends are complaining that they get dry easily, but it never happened to me; I probably finish the pack before that.

Natural/Green	$/wipe	Conventional wipes	$/wipe
7th Generation Unscented	0.04	Huggies Cucumber & Green Tea	0.04
		Huggies Unscented	0.04
		Pampers Sensitive	0.04
		Luvs	0.03

Air Fresheners - The Chemical Fresheners

Like fragrance, the air fresheners are responsible for high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home. A study made at University of Bristol examining the effects of air fresheners and aerosols, showed that the frequent use during pregnancy and early childhood was associated with higher levels of diarrhea, earache and other symptoms in infants, as well as headaches and depression in mothers.

“32% more babies suffered diarrhea in homes where air fresheners (including sticks, sprays and aerosols) were used every day, compared with homes where they were used once a week or less. They also suffered more from earache.

Air fresheners and aerosols also affected mothers, with those who used them daily suffering nearly 10% more headaches. 16% of mothers who used fresheners reported depression, compared with 12.7% of those who seldom used them. This represents an increased risk of over 26%.”

A report prepared by the California Air Resources Board showed that the use of some air fresheners in presence of ozone can produce toxic pollutants of serious health concern. These pollutants include formaldehyde (a known human carcinogen and a respiratory irritant) acetaldehyde, organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, secondary organic aerosol, and hydroxyl radicals. According to the California Air Resources Board, air cleaners or air “purifiers” that intentionally produce ozone should never be used; they emit very high levels of ozone, a reactive gas that is harmful to human health.

I do not use air fresheners at all, I like to keep the windows open and get some fresh air from outside. Here are some tips to get rid of the smell:
- open the windows for some fresh air; even the air from outside is not perfectly fresh and clean is far better than the chemicals from the air fresheners;
- clean the source of odor with non-toxic products or use natural ways to get rid of it: baking soda, vinegar, squeeze a fresh lemon, simmer some cinnamon or fresh ginger, or use some organic sachets of lavender;
- empty the garbage regularly;
- pet smells and other foul smells are only disolved by enzymes (and that's why european detergents are all the rage and are slowly showing up in the "green" detergents in the US).

Green or not? Natural vs. Eco-friendly Living

I was looking to buy some new pillows (made from organic cotton and filled with down) when I came across this product on the Macy’s website (image below). This is a pillow with the cover made from organic cotton, filled with polyester, has a biodegradable packaging, and a good price. The organic cotton is certified, which is great because I learned to always look for certifications, and the packaging is biodegradable (although it has to be certified to be accurately true but it can be meaningful even if is not certified as shown in previous post ).

Now here's the dilemma: the polyester fill is made from recycled plastic bottles which, of course, is great for the environment. But is this great for human health too? I wonder what kind of chemicals are used in the cleaning process of the bottles and what other chemicals are used along the way of the process? Well, I am all for an eco-friendly world but in the same time I am seeking a more natural way of leaving. But in my effort to become green should I choose these kinds of products over those that are made from natural fibers and ingredients?

This product is all the marketing buzz you can stuff in a tag line, but is it worth paying for chemically processed garbage in an organic cotton bag and use it as a pillow?

Update on Bisphenol A

A new draft report released by the National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, states that even low levels of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) by infants can lead to prostate and breast cancer. This is the first report of this kind released by a government institution. Last year, FDA concluded that BPA does not cause any health problems if exposed to low doses and so, decided that it can be used with confidence by the manufacturers. BPA is found in many products like canned food, plastic bottles, plastic food containers, infant formula, etc.

As I suggested in some previous posts the better way to stay out is:
- to use glass whenever possible,
- avoid plastic food containers. I found some very nice glass food containers at Amazon; they are very durable and they come in different sizes (they do have plastic lids, though...).
- choose the safest formula for babies and chose safe baby bottles,
- if cannot avoid plastic at all, look for the ones that seem to be safer,
- avoid plastic labeled as number 7 and/or PC. The BPA is used to harden the polycarbonate (PC).

Wise Word: Cosmetic Labels

Label	Where?	What it means?	Is it verified?	Is it meaningful?
Leaping Bunny	Skin, hair, eye care products, mouth care products, sunscreens, fragrance products, makeup products.	It signifies that the product is made by a company that adheres to the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals (developed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics ).	Yes. The CCIC verifies and the products have to be marked with the logo. Check the companies at www.leapingbunny.org	Yes. The logo indicates that the product is made by a company who pledges that its ingredient suppliers do not conduct or commission animal testing of their products after the date of the agreement.
Certified Vegan	Skin, eye, hair, shaving products, baby products, bath products, medications.	Contains no animal ingredients or by-products, use no animal ingredients or by-products in the manufacturing process, and not tested on animals by any company or independent contractor.	Yes, the Vegan Awareness Foundation.	Yes. These products should have the logo of the Vegan Awareness Foundation.
No Methylparaben or Propylparaben/ No Parabens	Skin, hair care products, baby products.	The product does not contain any parahydroxy-benzoate (paraben) preservatives.	No.	Yes. The claim is very specific. Check the list of ingredients.
No Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulphate	Skin, hair, eye care products, mouth care products, baby products, makeup products.	No standard definition. However the claim is very specific.	No.	Yes. The claim is very specific.
100% Vegetarian Ingredients	Skin, hair care products, bath products, sunscreens, fragrance.	Avoids animal products for cosmetics	No.	Somewhat. Check the list of ingredients. Cosmetics are required to list their ingredients with the exception of fragrance.
Alcohol Free	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, fragrance products, mouth care products, and sunscreens.	It implies that the product does not contain alcohol.	No.	Somewhat. Check the list of ingredients. Cosmetics are required to list their ingredients with the exception of fragrance.
Biodegradable	Skin, hair, shaving products, bath products, baby products, sunscreens.	A product is degradable when exposed to air, moisture, bacteria or other organisms and that the materials will break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal.	No.	Somewhat. Some products may take longer to biodegrade. Note: Being biodegradable does not mean it is healthy or safe for you or the environment. There are toxins that biodegrade in even more toxic substances.
DEA Free	Bath products, skin, hair care products, eye makeup, baby products, sunscreens.	The product does not contain the ingredient diethanolamine(DEA).	No.	Somewhat. It is a fairly specific claim. However, many companies do not use this ingredient anymore. Check the list of ingredients!
Antibacterial/ Antimicrobial/ Bactericidal/ Germicidal/ Kills Germs/ Kills Pathogenic Bacteria	Skin and mouth care products, sunscreens.	The product contains substances that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.	Yes. FDA regulates the use of this claim on lotions, hand washes, soaps, cosmetics and other personal care products.	Somewhat. FDA did not approve the claim on any lotion.
No Animal By-products/ No Animal Ingredients	Skin, hair products, bath products, fragrance products, sunscreens.	No standard definition. It means that no ingredients are by-products from slaughtered or rendered animals.	No.	Somewhat. Check the list of ingredients.
No Detergents	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, feminine hygiene products, mouth care products, fragrance products, and sunscreens.	No standard definition.	No.	Somewhat. It may still contain harsh solvents or cleaning chemicals as an alternative to detergents. Check the list of ingredients.
No Parrafin/ No Paraffin Wax	Skin, hair, eye care products, sunscreens, makeup products.	The products does not contain any substances that are derived from petroleum, coal tar, wood tar.	No.	Somewhat. Check the list of ingredients and look for words like methane, ethane, propane, butane, octane, mineral oil.
Water-based	Skin and hair care products, makeup products, fragrance products, baby products.	No standard definition. Water-based products can contain chemicals that are harmful to health.	No.	Somewhat. It is not meaningful on products that contain mostly water. Check the list of ingredients.
Fragrance Free	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, feminine hygiene products, mouth care products, and sunscreens.	It implies that the product does not contain any fragrances.	No.	Somewhat. Check the ingredients!
100% Biocompatible	Skin care and mouth care.	It implies that is “tolerated by the living organisms”	No.	No. The word is invented by manufacturers.
100% Vegan	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, fragrance products, mouth care products, and sunscreens.	Does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.	No.	No.
Allergy Tested	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, fragrance products, mouth care products, and sunscreens.	It implies that a product was tested for allergic reactions on skin.	No.	No. FDA states that manufacturers are not required to perform tests to prove the claim and states that all cosmetics are possible to cause an allergic reaction in sensitive people. In general, fragrance is the most likely ingredient to produce allergy.
Cruelty Free	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, fragrance products, mouth care products, and sunscreens.	No standard definition.	No.	No. Some companies can use materials that were tested on animals many years back; others can test their raw products on animals but not the final products; others may indeed not use animal testing.
Dermatologist Tested	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, fragrance products, mouth care products, and sunscreens.	It implies that a product was tested by a dermatologist and shown to not cause any skin reactions.	No.	No. FDA states that manufacturers are not required to perform tests to prove the claim and states that all cosmetics are possible to cause an allergic reaction in sensitive people. In general, fragrance is the most likely ingredient to produce allergy.
Effective Against E. Coli and Staphylococcus	Skin care, products, sunscreens, and mouth care products.	The product kills or inhibits the growth of two specific types of bacteria that can cause disease: E. coli and staphylococcus.	Yes, it is regulated by FDA (on lotions, hand washes, soaps, cosmetics and other personal care products).	No. FDA has not yet finalized its rules; and did not approve the claim on any lotion.
Environmentally Friendly/ Environmentally Preferable/ Environmentally Safe	Skin care products, bath products.	It implies that the product or packaging has some kind of environmental benefit or that it causes no harm to the environment.	No.	No. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) considers this claim too vague.
Hypoallergenic/ Non Irritating	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, feminine hygiene products, mouth care products, fragrance products, and sunscreens.	It implies that a product will be less likely to cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin.	No.	No. FDA considers products claiming to be “hypoallergenic” or “non irritating” as misbranded.
No Synthetic Detergents	Skin and hair care products, baby products.	No standard definition.	No.	No. All detergents and soap products are synthetic. Regardless of the source, the oils used must be chemically processed to make the surfactant.
Non Comedogenic	Skin and hair care products, makeup products, sunscreens.	The product does not contain common pore-clogging ingredients that could lead to acne. However, there is no official FDA definition or list of ingredients that are considered to be non-comedogenic.	No.	No. FDA considers products claiming “non comedogenic” as misbranded.
Sensitivity Tested	Skin, hair, nail, eye care, makeup, feminine hygiene, shaving products, bath products, baby products, feminine hygiene products, mouth care products, fragrance products, and sunscreens.	It implies a product was tested for sensitivity on skin.	No.	No. FDA considers products claiming “sensitivity tested” as misbranded.
Unscented	Skin care products, shaving products, bath products, fragrance products, baby products.	It implies that the product does not have any odor or scent.	No.	No. FDA considers products claiming to be “unscented” as misbranded.

Going Green: Product Review of the Week - Tub and Tiles Cleaners and Toilet Cleaners

Tub and Tiles Cleaners

I used heavily Kaboom and I have to admit it: it works great; it cleaned very easily the tub and very well. I have used all the conventional cleaners in the table until I have tried Seventh Generation. I think I almost tried all of their products. It works pretty well, of course not as effective as Kaboom; it cleans well the tiles but for the tub I have to scrub it hard, really hard sometimes. I plan to try EcoDiscoveries next; I hope it will work better. It seems that the conventional cleaners are more expensive, so why not try to switch to the green ones?

Natural/Green	$/ounce	Conventional tub and tiles cleaners	$/ounce
7th Generation	0.17	Lysol	0.24
EcoDiscoveries	0.19	Colgate Palmolive Ajax	0.28
Watkins	0.22	Kaboom	0.24
		Lime-A-Way	0.19

Toilet Cleaners

For toilet I always wanted something that, of course, will clean the toilet but also to disinfect it. I have used Clorox and Lysol a lot, until I decided to switch to a more earth friendly alternative, so I got (duh!) Earth Friendly toilet cleaner. It was not that bad, but I did not feel it right, I discovered that I have to clean the toilet more often than I used to. Then, I found on sale Clorox Greenworks. Although I am wary about Clorox becoming green all of a sudden, (they have to convince me the the two names next to each other (Clorox and Green...the green Clorox) are not an oxymoron), I decided to buy it and use it. It is green color and it looks like the product is actually quite good; I am using it now and I like it; it cleans well, does not smell too strong (it has a citric smell); overall, effective.

Natural/Green	$/ounce	Conventional toilet cleaners	$/ounce
Earth Friendly	0.11	Clorox	0.10
Bi-O-Kleen	0.17	Lysol	0.18
Ecover	0.17	Lime-A-Way	0.12
7th Generation	0.12
Clorox Greenworks	0.16

The Danger of Plastic Bottled Water

There have been news recently on National TV warning about the danger of chemicals released from plastic bottles. As I stated in a previous post tap water is safe to drink and if we want it to be safer we can use a filter. The news are stating that "certain plastics used to make reusable water bottles leak a chemical into drinking water that may pose a risk, especially to children and pregnant women." It is already known that plastic baby bottles are releasing substances dangerous for babies health. Well, I would not be surprised if in one day they will find the same results with the plastic bottled juice.



I am always concerned for the health of my family so until it is decided that the chemicals released are bad or not for our health I took the approach "better safe than sorry" and eliminated plastic bottled water from our consumption. It was a little hard to get used to the heavier glass bottles, but only for a short time; now I fell like in the 90's. :)

Here are some tips I follow:

• if you cannot avoid the plastic bottled water, do not reuse the plastic bottle; recycle it. In fact, do not reuse any plastic bottle.
  
• use glass whenever possible.
• just fill your glass bottle with tap water (filtered tap water) in your way out.
• use glass bottles for babies and kids.

Wise Word: House Cleaning Products Labels

Label	Where?	What it means?	Is it verified?	Is it meaningful?
Certified Biodegradable	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, glass, and metal cleaners.	The product will biodegrade in the environment: is not toxic to aquatic organisms, that it does not contain phosphates or other compounds that contribute to eutrophication and that the ingredients will not adversely impact the environment by displacing other harmful substances already present.	Yes, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent certifier, has developed certification standards for biodegradable soaps, detergents, and cleaners.	Yes, SCS ’s standards require testing to show 70% biodegradation within 28 days into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals under conditions where oxygen is present, and to ensure that whatever material is left after biodegradation is not toxic to aquatic organisms.
Certified Vegan	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture and floor cleaner.	Contain no animal ingredients or by-products, use no animal ingredients or by-products in the manufacturing process, and not tested on animals by any company or independent contractor.	Yes, the Vegan Awareness Foundation.	Yes. These products should have the logo of the Vegan Awareness Foundation.
Bactericidal/ Germicidal/ Kills Germs/ Kills Pathogenic Bacteria/ Antibacterial/ Antimicrobial	Bathroom, kitchen, and laundry cleaners, sponges.	Bactericidal/Germicidal: it contains substances that kill the bacteria. Antibacterial/Antimicrobial: it contains substances that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.	Yes, EPA regulates all household cleaning products and laundry detergents that claim to have bactericidal or antimicrobial/antibacterial properties except dishwashing soap.	Yes. EPA reviews the claims, to ensure that the active ingredient meets required safety and effectiveness tests, and that the product is labeled properly.
Effective Against E. Coli and Staphylococcus	Bathroom, kitchen and laundry cleaners.	The product kills or inhibits the growth of two specific types of bacteria that can cause disease: E. coli and staphylococcus.	Yes, it is regulated by EPA.	Yes. EPA reviews the information, to ensure that the active ingredient meets required safety and effectiveness tests, and that the product is labeled properly.
Mold and Mildew Resistant	Bathroom and kitchen cleaners.	The product is or contains an antimicrobial chemical which interferes with the growth of mold and mildew.	Yes, it is regulated by EPA.	Yes. The EPA does requires safety testing of active ingredients.
Reduces Risk of Food-borne Illness from Bacteria	Bathroom and kitchen cleaners.	It implies that the product kills or inhibits the growth of disease-causing bacteria in or on food (or hands or items touching the food).	Yes, It is regulated by EPA.	Yes. The EPA requires testing of active ingredients to ensure that are safe and efficacious.
Retards the Growth and Odors of Bacterial Odors	Bathroom and kitchen cleaners.	The product contains an antimicrobial chemical which helps to slow the development of odor by killing or inhibiting the growth of odor-causing microbes.	Yes, It is regulated by EPA.	Yes. The EPA requires testing of active ingredients to ensure that are safe and efficacious.
No Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulphate	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition. However the claim is very specific.	No.	Yes. The claim is very specific.
Biodegradable	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, floor, furniture, glass, metal, and wood cleaners.	A product is degradable when exposed to air, moisture, bacteria or other organisms and that the materials will break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal.	No.	Somewhat. Some products may take longer to biodegrade. Note: Being biodegradable does not mean it is healthy or safe for you or the environment. There are toxins that biodegrade in even more toxic substances.
DEA-free	Glass an metal cleaners.	The product does not contain the ingredient diethanolamine(DEA).	No.	Somewhat. It is a fairly specific claim. However, many companies do not use this ingredient anymore.
Includes Biodegradable Surfactants (Anionic or Nonionic)/Includes Biodegradable Surfactants, Enzymes, and Brightening Agents	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No specific standard definition.	No.	Somewhat. They do not refer to the product as a whole. Note: Many ingredients in soap and detergent products are biodegradable regardless labeling.
No Animal By-products/ No Animal Ingredients	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition. It means that no ingredients are by-products from slaughtered or rendered animals.	No.	Somewhat.
No Detergents	Bathroom, kitchen, wood, and furniture cleaners.	No standard definition.	No.	Somewhat. It may still contain harsh solvents or cleaning chemicals as an alternative to detergents.
No Phosphate/Phosphate Free/Contains No Phosphorus	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It implies that a product contains no phosphate chemicals.	No.	Somewhat. Starting in 1994, major manufacturers of laundry detergents had all eliminated phosphate from their products.
TEA-free	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	The product does not contain the ingredient triethanolamine, or TEA.	No.	Somewhat. It is a fairly specific claim.
Water-based	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition. Water-based products can contain chemicals that are harmful to health.	No.	Somewhat. It is not meaningful on products that contain mostly water.
100% Biocompatible	Bathroom, kitchen and laundry cleaners.	No standard definition. Manufacturers suggest that it means "tolerated by living organisms."	No.	No.
100% Vegan	Floor, laundry, glass, metal, wood, kitchen, and bathroom cleaners.	Does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.	No.	No.
Cruelty Free/No Animal Testing	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition.	No.	No. Some companies can use materials that were tested on animals many years back; others can test their raw products on animals but not the final products; others may indeed not use animal testing.
Eco Safe/ Environmentally Friendly/ Environmentally Preferable/ Environmentally Safe	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It implies that the product or packaging has some kind of environmental benefit or that it causes no harm to the environment.	No.	No.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) considers this claim too vague.
Gray Water Safe	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It implies that they will not interfere with the proper functioning of graywater collection and treatment systems.	No.	No. The NSFC states that any cleaning product is safe to use with graywater systems, so long as the product is used in accordance with the product label.
No Synthetic Detergents	Laundry cleaners.	No standard definition.	No.	No. All detergents and soap products are synthetic. Regardless of the source, the oils used must be chemically processed to make the surfactant.
Non-fuming	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It suggests that the product or substance does not give off vapors (gases), dusts, and/or smoke (physical and chemical).	No.	No.
Non-biotoxic/ Non-toxic	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It suggests that a product, substance, or chemical will not cause adverse health effects, either immediately or over the long-term, to biological organisms.	No.	No. A product that does not meet the definition of “toxic” according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission should not necessarily be considered non-toxic.
Septic Tank Safe	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	The product is safe to use in a septic tank system.	No.	No. The NSFC states that any cleaning product is safe to use with septic tank systems, so long as the product is used in accordance with the product label.