Chemicals in Paper Towels: Are There Nontoxic Alternatives?

cancer hormones kitchen reproductive health Jan 10, 2018

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

 

Paper towels are handy for cleaning up a milk spill, drying hands, and cleaning the house. Maybe a little too handy.

In 2017, consumers spent $39,203 million on household paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, tissues, etc). Plus, consumer spending went up by $1,958 million over a two-year period, with spending totaling a lesser $37,245 million in 2015. (1)

Let’s look at it another way.

Americans use 741 pounds of paper each year, on average. Nearly 55 of those pounds are for household paper products such as paper towels, napkins, tissues and toilet paper. (2)

Per year!

That’s a lot of paper products.

As users of so many paper products it’s worth asking, are chemicals found in these products and if so, are there nontoxic alternatives?

Are Chemicals Found in Paper Towels?

Paper products, such as paper towels can contain dyes, inks, fragrances, chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, adhesives, and other chemicals. Here are a few of the specifics:

  • CDFs. Chlorodibenzofurans (CDFs) is a chemical group with over 135 types of chemicals. They may affect the nervous system, respiratory system, and irritate the skin and eyes. CDF has been found in paper towels, coffee filters, milk cartons, and tampons. (3)
  • Triclosan. Triclosan is added to products as an antimicrobial with the intention of reducing, or preventing, bacterial contamination. (4) The chemical can be found in soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, clothing, toys, furniture, and paper products, such as paper towels or napkins. It can also be found in the bodies of most Americans. Triclosan may be affecting the hormone and reproductive systems, and causing an increased sensitivity to allergens. (5)
  • Formaldehyde. Paper towels have been found to contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a chemical in the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) family, and off-gasses into the air. People can be exposed to formaldehyde through touching products as well. (6) Of course, with paper towel touching (especially when wiping our hands) exposure is pretty common.
  • BPS. Created as an alternative to the toxic chemical BPA (bisphenol A), BPS (bisphenol S) has been found to likely have the same effect on people’s health. (7) Found in urine samples from US subjects, BPS may affect the hormone systems. Products such as newspaper, food paper, and paper towels have been found to have BPS in them. The BPS may have been from the recycling process. (8)

Are There Nontoxic Paper Towels?

There are companies that make paper towels with nontoxic ingredients, such as using peroxide instead of chlorine bleach for whitening. Some companies simply leave ingredients, such as dyes and inks out of products. It’s tough to know for sure though.

Manufacturing companies are not required to list ingredients on paper towels, keeping consumers in the dark about the full list of ingredients used to make the product. The next best thing consumers can do is to choose paper towels that say it does not have dyes, fragrances, or bleach in it.

Another option is to ditch the paper towels (nearly) all together, and use fabric towels instead. Limit use of paper towels to cleaning soiled areas, such as toilets. Instead of using paper towels for dusting and wiping surfaces, use rags (old or new!) for cleaning the house.

Hang hand towels in the kitchen and bathrooms for drying hands after washing. Have one or two extra hand towels hand-y (ha!) when entertaining guests so that towels can be changed if they become too wet. When buying new hand towels, choose towels made from organic, natural fabric and dyes plus those without finishes.

Breaking the habit of using so many paper towels (and other paper products) may take a little getting used to but can be a worthwhile change. There’s a potential to reduce the amount of money that the household is spending on paper products, reduce the amount of chemicals in the home, and reduce the poundage of paper products used per year. An all around win!

 

Enjoy Support for Practical Nontoxic Living!

Curious which specific brands of products our nontoxic living expert, Sophia Ruan Gushée, uses? Register for a free intro to the D-Tox Academy to detox your home and life at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Included a the shopping list of Sophia's household staples.
 


References

(1) U.S. Dept of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. https://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=19&step=2#reqid=19&step=3&isuri=1&1921=underlying&1903=2017

(2)  Environmental Working Group - Enviroblog. https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2014/04/lets-talk-trash#.Wj2Q7N-nHIU

(3)  ATSDR - CDFs. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=937&tid=194

(4)  U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm205999.htm

(5)  Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-triclosan#.Wj2nfd-nHIV

(6)  ATSDR - Formaldehyde. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp111-c1.pdf

(7)  Environmental Health Perspectives. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1408989/

(8)  Pollution Prevention Resource Center. http://pprc.org/index.php/2012/p2-rapid/bps-as-a-replacement-for-bpa-in-thermal-paper/

 

 

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About Ruan Living

Ruan Living simplifies a nontoxic lifestyle through its Practical Nontoxic Living podcast, free detox workshops, online D-Tox Academy, and transformative 40-Day Home Detox. It aims to help you avoid toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from what you buy, own, and do— without compromising your joy and convenience. Ruan was founded by Sophia Ruan Gushée, author of the bestselling critically acclaimed book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Your Toxic Exposures and several detox workbooks. A graduate of Brown University and Columbia Business School, Sophia has served on the Brown University School of Public Health Advisory Council and Well+Good Council. A popular nontoxic living speaker, consultant, and teacher, Sophia lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters. Her passion for empowering others to enjoy nontoxic living began with the birth of her first daughter in 2007. Everything she creates is a love letter to her children and for the healthiest, brightest future possible. You can learn more here: Sophia’s Impact.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. This information is provided “as is” without warranty.

It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. We do not offer medical advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other opinion on your conditions or treatment options. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Ruan Living.

In no event will Sophia Ruan Gushee or Ruan Living be liable for any damages or loss of any kind resulting from the use of this website. Anyone relying upon or making use of the information on this website does so at his or her own risk.

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