Endust
Encyclopedia
Endust is a dusting aid produced by Sara Lee Corporation. A dusting aid is sprayed on a dustcloth or dustmop, rather than directly on the furniture.
Originally, Endust consisted of odorless mineral spirits and 1,1,1-trichloroethane
with a propellant blend of butane
and isopropane
. The Montreal Protocol
targeted 1,1,1-trichloroethane as one of those compounds responsible for ozone depletion
and banned its use beginning in 1996. Since then, its manufacture and use has been phased out throughout most of the world.
It's not clear whether huffing Endust is, or has ever been, a common form of drug abuse
, but Endust is commonly listed as an inhalant
. Although not as toxic
as many chlorinated solvents, inhaled 1,1,1-trichloroethane or difluoroethane does act as a central nervous system
depressant
and can cause effects similar to those of intoxication, including dizziness
, confusion, and in sufficiently high concentrations, unconsciousness
and death
and even disease
.
Roger Blackwell
Ph. D., of the Fisher College of Business says that Harry Drackett invented Endust. In the 1970s, however, the Drackett company offered a one-page company history indicating that they purchased the Endust product from a small company in Chicago
.
The Federal Trade Commission
allowed S. C. Johnson & Son
to purchase Drackett
in 1992, provided that they divested themselves of certain Drackett product lines within one year. Sara Lee bought Endust and Behold at that time.
In 2008, Endust released Endust Free, a fragrance free, hypoallergenic cleaning product that is asthma and allergy friendly.
Originally, Endust consisted of odorless mineral spirits and 1,1,1-trichloroethane
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
The organic compound 1,1,1-trichloroethane, also known as methyl chloroform, is a chloroalkane. This colourless, sweet-smelling liquid was once produced industrially in large quantities for use as a solvent...
with a propellant blend of butane
Butane
Butane is a gas with the formula C4H10 that is an alkane with four carbon atoms. The term may refer to any of two structural isomers, or to a mixture of them: in the IUPAC nomenclature, however, butane refers only to the unbranched n-butane isomer; the other one being called "methylpropane" or...
and isopropane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
. The Montreal Protocol
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion...
targeted 1,1,1-trichloroethane as one of those compounds responsible for ozone depletion
Ozone depletion
Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere , and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon...
and banned its use beginning in 1996. Since then, its manufacture and use has been phased out throughout most of the world.
It's not clear whether huffing Endust is, or has ever been, a common form of drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
, but Endust is commonly listed as an inhalant
Inhalant
Inhalants are a broad range of drugs whose volatile vapors are taken in via the nose and trachea. They are taken by volatilization, and do not include drugs that are inhaled after burning or heating...
. Although not as toxic
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
as many chlorinated solvents, inhaled 1,1,1-trichloroethane or difluoroethane does act as a central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
depressant
Depressant
A depressant, or central depressant, is a drug or endogenous compound that depresses the function or activity of a specific part of the brain...
and can cause effects similar to those of intoxication, including dizziness
Dizziness
Dizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. The term is somewhat imprecise. It can be used to mean vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or a non-specific feeling such as giddiness or foolishness....
, confusion, and in sufficiently high concentrations, unconsciousness
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
and death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
and even disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
.
Roger Blackwell
Roger Blackwell
Roger Blackwell is an American recognized marketing expert and public speaker. He has a reputation throughout that country.He has written several books on marketing including Consumer Behavior , From Mind to Market : Reinventing the Retail Supply Chain and Customers Rule! .Blackwell was a...
Ph. D., of the Fisher College of Business says that Harry Drackett invented Endust. In the 1970s, however, the Drackett company offered a one-page company history indicating that they purchased the Endust product from a small company in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
The Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
allowed S. C. Johnson & Son
S. C. Johnson & Son
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. , previously known as S. C. Johnson Wax , is a privately held, global manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals based in Racine, Wisconsin. It has operations in 72 countries and its brands are sold in over 110...
to purchase Drackett
Drackett
The Drackett Company was a leading company in the specialty chemicals business during the 20th century, responsible for such products as Windex glass cleaner, Vanish toilet bowl cleaner, Drāno drain opener, Behold furniture polish, Endust dusting aid, Renuzit air freshener, Mr. Muscle oven...
in 1992, provided that they divested themselves of certain Drackett product lines within one year. Sara Lee bought Endust and Behold at that time.
In 2008, Endust released Endust Free, a fragrance free, hypoallergenic cleaning product that is asthma and allergy friendly.