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Consumer group claims cleansers harm health

Everyday use of 14 common household products may harm your health, the Consumers' Foundation said yesterday, with one expert saying that even shampoo could cause cancer.

The foundation urged the public to maintain a well-ventilated environment when using products such as laundry detergent, air freshener and fabric softener.

"Our research shows that people may experience dizziness, nausea and even vomiting when using these chemicals in a confined space. We urge the public to keep a well-ventilated home to avoid such discomfort," foundation president Cheng Jen-hung (程仁宏) said.

Chemistry Professor Gaston Wu (吳家誠) said most household and industrial cleansers contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be carcinogenic if inhaled in large amounts over an extended period of time.

Wu said the usage of VOCs is so pervasive that a lot of people may already be suffering from overexposure to the compounds.
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