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Science Activities
AS10 - Chemicals in the Home Survey
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Syllabus references:
In this activity you will research what chemicals
are used in your home and rate them in terms of potential environmental
hazards.
Core Content: 5.10 d) discuss strategies used to balance
human activities and needs in ecosystems with conserving, protecting
and maintaining the quality of the environment
Skills: 5.14 a) Follow the planned procedure when performing
an investigation
Time: 40 minutes
Ask your parents to help you go through your
cupboards and identify what chemicals you have in your home. Read
the labels to identify if the bottle is potentially hazardous. (Refer
to Handout 5.2 for hazard information). Count how many containers
of hazardous chemical are present.
What chemicals are in your cupboards?
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ROOM
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CHEMICAL
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HAZARD
RATING
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NUMBER OF CONTAINERS
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KITCHEN
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oven cleaner
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floor cleaner and wax
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disinfectant
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ammonia
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scouring powder
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bleach
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other
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Total containers
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LAUNDRY
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carpet cleaner
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furniture polish
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air freshener
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bleach
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stain remover
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detergent
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other
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Total containers
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GARDEN
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weed killer
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insecticide
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fertiliser
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other
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Total containers
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BATHROOM
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tub/tile cleaner
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drain cleaner
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toilet cleaner
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medicine
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other
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Total containers
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GARAGE
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paint
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varnish
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glue
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paint thinner
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furniture stripper
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wood preservative
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oil and petrol
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antifreeze
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rat poison
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pool chemicals
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other
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Total containers
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Total number of containers
of hazardous chemicals in your home:
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(a) Class total
number of containers:
(a)
(b) Number of
households surveyed in class:
(b)
(c) Average number
of hazardous materials per household:
(a/b)
(e) Estimate of hazardous chemicals
in local catchment area: (number
of homes x c)
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Can household products harm you?
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TOXICITY RATING
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LETHAL DOSE FOR 70 KG HUMAN
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HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
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Practically
non-toxic
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More than 1 litre
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Food, candy, lead pencils, eye
makeup
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Slightly toxic
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500 ml to 1 litre
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Dry cell batteries, glass cleaner,
deodorants, soap
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CAUTION:
Moderately toxic
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20 ml to 500 ml
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Antifreeze, automotive cleaners,
bleach, detergents, dry cleaners, oven cleaner, general cleaners,
fuels, lubricating oils, stain removers, disinfectants, floor
polish, shoe polish, paint
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WARNING:
Very toxic
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5 ml to 20 ml
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Toilet cleaners, engine cleaners,
fertilisers, paint brush cleaner, paint and varnish remover,
fireworks, mildew proofing, air sanitiser, lacquer thinner,
pesticides, DDT, chlordane, heptachlor, lindane, mirex, diazon,
malathion, 2-4D
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DANGER:
Extremely toxic
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1 drop to 5 ml
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Some insecticides, fungicides,
rodenticides, herbicides, aldrin, eldrin, bidrin, paraquat,
some fertiliser and mercury batteries
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DANGER:
SUPER TOXIC
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A few pesticides like: paroxon,
phosdrin, parathion, isobenzan, pyrazoyan
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Non-toxic alternatives to toxic household cleaning products
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Bleach
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Oxygen bleaches, sun-bleaching
of clothes
Key question: Is protecting
the environment more important thant bright white clothes?
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Deodorisers
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An open box of baking soda, herbal
arrangements, cedar chips, cinnamon and cloves
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Drain cleaners
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Using a plunger, followed by ¼
cup of baking soda and ½ cup of vinegar. Allow to sit for
15 minutes, then rinse with boiling water. Mechanical methods
can also be used – one method involves using a long metal
rod called an “eel”. The best alternative is prevention,
particularly hair removal and by inserting a screen in the
drain to catch material before it enters the drain.
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Dusting
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Use ¼ cup of white vinegar in
two litres of water. Apply using a soft cloth.
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Furniture polish
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Rub with 20 ml of lemon oil mixed
in 500 ml of mineral oil.
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Glass cleaner
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Use 2 tablespoons of vinegar in
1 litre of water.
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Mildew stain remover
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Use ½ cup vinegar mixed with 1
litre of warm water.
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Spot cleaning carpets
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Apply soda water immediately to
any spill, blot dry and repeat. Sprinkle with corn flour and
vacuum after 30 minutes.
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Toilet cleaner
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Use baking soda or vinegar.
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Pesticide
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Herbal sprays and companion planting.
Plant native species.
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Fertilisers
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Use composted food and vegetable
waste to maintain soil fertility.
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Safe disposal of household chemicals
Do not place dangerous chemicals
in your usual garbage collection.
These chemicals cannot be disposed of
in the normal waste stream because they are toxic. Special precautions
have to be made to dispose of them in special “secure”
landfill sites.
Sydney Water and Waste Service NSW have
household chemical collection days once a year. To find out the
next collection day, call 1800 814 719 or your local council.
The chemicals that can be safely recycled
or disposed of at your local Waste Management Centre depend on their
policy.
Construct a list of the Waste Facilities
in your local area.
What chemicals do you have to dispose
of?
Contact the various facilities and list
the chemicals that they will or will not accept for recycling or
disposal.
Do you have any chemicals that will
not be accepted by any of your local waste depots? Why?
What effect could these chemicals have
on your local environment?
Could they be re-used?
What other option do you have for their
safe disposal?
TO REDUCE CHEMICAL WASTE
S Use
less hazardous alternatives – ask your local hardware for advice.
S Buy
only the quantity that you need.
S Ask
neighbours or friends to use leftover chemicals such as pool chlorine
or turps.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Total Environment Centre
Level 2, 362 Kent St, SYDNEY NSW
2000
Phone 9299 5599 Fax 9299 4411
Email: toencen@magna.com.au
Website: www.tec.ncc.nsw.org.au
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The Clean House Effect (Planet Ark Shop)
445 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone 9516 4681 Fax 9516 3862
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