Tox-Sick Homes. Be aware to be safe.
More household toxins
Deadly chemicals used in the home
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Aliphatic petroleum distillates: Flammable. Eye and skin irritant. Neurotoxic. Bitumastic: Warning label says "Will cause cancer if contacted with skin."
- Butyl cellulose (also known as 2-butoxy- I - ethanol or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether): Damages blood, central nervous system, kidneys and liver. Readily absorbed through the skin. Neurotoxic.
- Calcium carbonate: Moderate to severe eye irritant.
- Crystalline silica: Eye, skin and lung irritant. Carcinogenic.
- Diethanolamine (DEA): Mild skin and severe eye irritant. Reacts with nitrates (added as undisclosed preservatives to some products or their raw materials or present as contaminants) to form highly potent carcinogenic nitrosamines. Nitrosamines have been shown to readily penetrate the skin.
- Dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride: Severe eye and skin irritant.
- Ethyl alcohol: Respiratory tract irritant.
- Formaldehyde: Poisonous irritant to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. A sensitizer. Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic. Waste by-product of the metal industries. Used in sodas.
- Glycol ether: Eye irritant.
- Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive. Severe eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant; highly toxic if inhaled with unknown systemic effects. Inhalation of vapors may cause severe irritation of the respiratory system, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
- Ispropyl alcohol: Combustible. Eye irritant. Neurotoxic at high concentrations.
- Light petroleum distillates: Eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Can cause skin rash. Neurotoxic. Repeated exposure has caused kidney disorders and damage in animals.
- Limonene fraction terpines: Eye, skin and respiratory irritant.
- Mineral spirits: Severe eye and skin irritant. Neurotoxic.
- Nonoxyl 4: Eye and skin irritant.
- Nonylphenol ethoxylate: Eye, skin and respiratory tract irritant.
- Oil of orange: Skin irritant. Carcinogenic.
- Ortho phenylphenol: Severe eye and skin irritant. EPA says it is probably carcinogenic to humans.
- Oxalic acid dehydrate: Eye and skin irritant. Can be allergenic.
- Parabens (methyl, propyl): Allergenic.
- Petroleum distillates: Eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Can cause conjunctivitis and dermatitis. May contain traces of benzene which is carcinogenic. Mild to significant neurotoxic effects leading to organic brain damage, depending on concentration and duration of exposure.
- Petroleum solvents: Severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. May contain traces of benzene, which is carcinogenic. Significant neurotoxic effects.
- Phosphoric acid: Corrosive. Severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Breathing vapors can make lungs ache. Used in colas for shelf life.
- Pine oil: Weak allergen. Very large doses cause central nervous system depression.
- Proteolytic enzymes: May cause sensitization with symptoms ranging from mild hay fever and asthma to dermatitis.
- Quaternary ammonium compound: Eye and skin irritant.
- Sodium bisulfate: Corrosive and damaging to the eyes, skin, and internal tissues if ingested. Can cause asthma attacks.
- Sodium dichloroisocyanurate dehydrate: Corrosive. Severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Can form chlorine gas that can cause burning and watering of the eyes, as well as burning of the nose and mouth.
- Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate: Eye and skin irritant.
- Sodium hydroxide: Corrosive. Eye, skin and respiratory irritant. When highly concentrated as used in some drain openers and oven cleaners, it can burn eyes, skin, and internal organs. Can be fatal if swallowed.
- Sodium hypochlorite: (bleach) Corrosive. Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Can be fatal if swallowed. Especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma.
- Sodium metasilicate: Corrosive. Severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Inhalation of dust can cause throat and lung damage.
- Sodium ortho-phenylphenol: Eye and skin irritant. Carcinogenic.
- Sodium silicate: Can be corrosive. Can cause burns to the eyes and tissue damage to the skin, as well as cause burns to mouth, throat and stomach if swallowed.
- Sodium Sulfate: Corrosive. Severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Can cause asthma attacks.
- Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene): Eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic.
- Toulene: Eye and skin irritant. Can cause cardiac sensitization. Neurotoxic. Reproductive effects.
- Trithanolamine (TEA): Eye and skin irritant. Can react with nitrates (added as undisclosed preservatives to some products or their raw materials or present as contaminants) to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Nitrosamines have been shown to readily penetrate the skin.
- Tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether: Prolonged and repeated skin exposure to large doses can result in narcosis and kidney injury.
- Trisodium nitrolotriacetate: Carcinogenic.
- Xylene: Severe eye and moderate skin irritant. Significant neurotoxic effects. Reproductive effects.
US statistics
- The March of Dimes estimates that 200,000 live infants are born with birth defects each year as a result of parental chemical exposure. ["Disorders of Reproduction," 8/6/85 34 (35)].
- An estimated 560,000 infant deaths, spontaneous abortions and stillbirths occur each year from parental chemical exposures. ["Disorders of Reproduction," 8/6/85 34(35)].
- While there are more than 1,000 workplace chemicals that have been shown to have adverse reproductive effects in animals, they have not been studied in humans. ["The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Male Reproductive Health," NIOSH (1996)].
- There are four million chemical mixtures in commercial use that have never been tested for their reproductive effects. ["The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Male Reproductive Health," NIOSH (1996)].