Demystifying household chemicals: Acetic acid

Some bottles of nail polish contain acetic acid
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

"Demystifying household chemicals" is a series that aims to inform people on the types of chemicals found in and around our homes. The series will be featured every Wednesday where a different chemical, and its everyday uses, will be discussed.

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the words: acetic acid? 

Sounds familiar, right?

Well, acetic acid is found in many different food products and some drinks as well. Small concentrations of this organic compound can be found in wine, cheese and orange juice, but the most common product we think of when we think of acetic acid is vinegar. Many condiments contain a little bit of vinegar, such as prepared mustard, prepared salad dressings and ketchup.

Acetic acid (also called ethanoic acid, ethylic acid, or methane carboxylic acid), is a main component of vinegar. This acid is what makes vinegar smell and taste so distinctive. It is a colorless liquid that is used in many commercial products that, in large quantities, can be dangerous.

Vinegar contains about five percent acetic acid and in that concentration, is considered safe. Once concentrations reach 10 percent, acetic acid becomes an irritant. At 25 percent concentration, it becomes corrosive and at 90 percent concentration, becomes flammable and volatile. 

Close contact to highly concentrated acetic acid can result in blindness and inhalation can cause respiratory problems. If your skin comes into contact with it, burns and blisters can result, though not necessarily right away. Ingestion can cause abdominal pains, the erosion of your teeth enamel, and even kidney failure in extreme cases.

 

Acetic acid is used in many laboratories and industrial industries. Large quantities are used for making:

• Pesticides
• Rubber
• Plastics
• Dyes

 Smaller concentrations can be found in the following household products:

• Nail polish
• Hair spray
• Glass and surface cleaner
• Shaving cream (men’s and women’s)
• Female personal cleansing products
• Moisturizers

For more information on these products and how safe they are, consult the GoodGuide.

Did any of this information surprise you? Share your questions, concerns or stories with us.

Sources: Article Online Directory, Health Protection Agency, Virginia Department of Health

Protecting your home

In order to protect your loved ones from undue exposure to acetic acid, first try to reduce the number of products containing high percentages of the compound. Purchase products that contain 10 percent or less acetic acid. For products containing more than that, make efforts to use them in aerated spaces.

Activated carbon adsorbs gases, chemicals
and odors, thereby improving
your indoor air quality

Using glass cleaners containing acetic acid and water may not be unhealthy, but using an aerosol hair spray in enclosed spaces is potentially toxic because it contains many other harmful chemicals. 

To keep your home as free from detrimental chemicals as possible, invest in an air purifier that will help rid the air of toxic chemicals found in nail polish, pesticides and hair sprays.

AllerAir’s activated carbon filters adsorb gases, odors and chemicals and help improve your indoor air quality.

For more information on our air purifiers, contact AllerAir today.

Show your support for a greener and healthier home by becoming a follower of this blog.

Non-toxic cleaning: How vinegar works

Cleaning with vinegar is a great way to reduce chemical exposure at home

Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent.

Many of our previous blog posts decry the use of harsh chemicals in common household cleaning products, which can add to poor indoor air quality in the home.

One of the things we always say is to replace chemical cleaning products with natural cleaning agents such as vinegar. But how does vinegar actually work?

In a Networx article “The Science of Vinegar” Julian Taub explains what makes vinegar so effective for everyday cleaning chores.

What is vinegar?

Vinegar usually consists of water with 4-5% of a chemical called acetic acid. Acetic Acid is a weak acid (although the concentrated form can be a skin irritant); it is antibacterial and antifungal, meaning it can neutralize bacteria and fungi and thus remove odors.

When it is dissolved in water, acetic acid breaks apart into two components, the hydrogen and the remainder of the molecule, called the acetate.

The hydrogen will try to bond to any molecule that it encounters, that is why they are great at cleaning stains made from alkali substances, like soap, urine, and limestone.

Unlike harsh chemicals, vinegar maintains a balance within water of about 1% separated acetic acid, making it safe to use on cleaning surfaces, but slightly less effective in fighting grease or carbon buildup on cooking utensils.

Cleaning with natural ingredients is
better for your health and well-being.

Cleaning with vinegar

You can use vinegar on most cleaning surfaces, especially in the bathroom and kitchen and the floors, but it shouldn’t be used everywhere (see below).

Most people will dilute vinegar with water to create an effective cleaning agent, and you could also add some fresh lemon juice. Don’t worry about the vinegar smell; it disappears once the vinegar evaporates.

Do not mix the vinegar with alkali-cleaning products such as soap, lye and bleach because they will both become ineffective and/or create poisonous fumes (with bleach).

However, the neutralization effect can be used effectively for unclogging drains. Mixing vinegar and baking soda will create a “volcano effect” – the reaction between the two creating water and carbon dioxide will increase the pressure in the drain pipe and dislodge some of the clogging material.

The author warns against using vinegar on clean upholstery, serious drain clogs or ovens. It should also not be used on metals, including iron, stainless steel, bronze or copper.

Want to know more about indoor air quality, airborne chemicals and air treatment solutions? Contact us at 1-888-852-8247 and follow us on Twitter.

Air Pollution Affecting Historical Artifacts Worldwide, Even Indoors

The Taj Mahal is turning yellow.

Greece’s Parthenon and Egypt’s pyramids are showing signs of serious decay.

500 year old statues in Florence, Italy which were restored only nine years ago are now pockmarked and covered in black scum.

These vital links to our past and our humanity are not being damaged by vandals, earthquakes or even acid rain, but by air pollution.

For many countries the problem has become so insurmountable that where possible, important monuments have been moved indoors.

Unfortunately, conservationists have found that the decay doesn’t end there. Museum curators and archivists are also struggling with preserving art and other historical documents from indoor air pollution.

In 1985 the Getty Conservation Institute began researching the risks of atmospheric pollutants on museum collections as well as possible remedies and solutions.

Among their findings, they determined that ozone concentrations within museums fitted with activated carbon air filtration units were generally quite low (ozone causes fading and discoloration).

Activated carbon is also effective on numerous other pollutants which can affect artifacts, including formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, formic acid and acetic acid.

Cultural facilities property should address these contaminants in order to preserve their collections, before pollutants will cause irreparable damage.

Contact AllerAir or its industrial division Electrocorp for suitable air filtration solutions.