I finally grew tired of only seeing sporadic references to
the toxic or otherwise unpleasant effects of various chemicals
that are in our
food, soil, air, beds, lotions, shampoos, carpets, cars, et cetera
ad infinitum.
I decided to consolidate all of the information
that I was searching out
in one place.
Note: I don't guarantee any information herein
for any purpose, and I suggest that you always
do your own research.
| Chemical |
Used for |
Used in |
Health effects |
Derived from |
Links |
Where banned |
| "1,3-diphenylpropane" |
? |
sol-gel |
? |
? |
1 |
| Acacia gum (E414); gum arabic |
coating |
food |
? |
? |
1 |
| Acesulfame potassium |
sweetener |
drinks |
? |
? |
|
| Acridine dyes |
experimental treatment for herpesvirus |
medication |
mutagen (frameshift); potent carcinogen |
? |
? |
| Acrylamide |
(byproduct?) |
soaps |
neurotoxicity; genotoxicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity |
? |
1 |
| Aflatoxin |
strong carcinogen (contaminant) |
peanut butter; peanuts; corn; cottonseed |
cancer |
produced by fungus Aspergillus flavis |
1 |
| Ammonium xylenesulfonate |
thickener; improves water solubility |
shampoo |
? |
? |
|
| Antimony trihydride |
? |
Possibly from PVC |
Possibly causes SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) |
? |
|
| Asbestos |
insulator |
homes; vehicle brakes |
asbestosis; mesothelioma |
serpentine & other ultramafic rocks |
|
| Aspartame (Nutrasweet) |
sweetener |
foods; drinks |
cancer |
? |
1 2 |
| A-Terpineol |
? |
? |
causes respiratory problems; including fatal edema; causes central nervous system damage |
? |
? |
| Azodicarbonamide |
flour; jar closure technology |
? |
degrades to semicarbazide which causes DNA damage in mice |
? |
1 |
| Bacitracin |
topical antibiotic |
? |
contact dermatitis |
? |
1 |
| Benzalkonium Chloride |
antibiotic |
moist-wipes; cosmetics |
highly toxic; mutagenic; reproductive damage; kidney damage; corrosive |
? |
1 |
| Benzene (C6H6) |
? |
found in Coca-Cola and other soft drinks |
carcinogen |
? |
1 |
| Benzopyrene |
toxin |
found in smoke & soot |
mutagen (frameshift); potent carcinogen |
? |
? |
| Benzyl acetate |
? |
? |
linked to pancreatic cancer |
? |
? |
| Benzyl alcohol |
? |
? |
upper respiratory tract irritant |
? |
? |
| Bisphenol A |
? |
food-grade plastics |
leaches into food to damage brain; disrupts hormones; may be carcinogen |
petroleum? |
1 2 |
| Boric acid |
insecticide |
mattresses; eye washes |
damages testes; can cause death |
? |
1 |
| Butylparaben |
preservative |
soaps |
irritates skin; affects male reproductive system; paraben is an estrogen mimic |
? |
1 |
| C8 |
used to manufacture Teflon |
Teflon pans; clothing |
causes birth defects |
? |
? |
| Calcium bicarbonate |
? |
? |
? |
calcium carbonate reacting with carbonic acid (CO2) |
? |
| Calcium carbonate (AKA calcite) |
abrasive |
toothpaste |
? |
limestone |
? |
| Calcium iodate |
? |
chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Calcium pantothenate |
form of Vitamin B5 |
chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Camphor |
? |
? |
causes central nervous system disorders |
? |
? |
| Carrageenan |
thickener |
toothpaste |
? |
seaweed |
? |
| Choline chloride |
growth accelerator |
chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Chloroform |
? |
? |
neurotoxin; anesthetic and carcinogenic |
? |
? |
| Cobalt chloride |
? |
antiperspirants; hair dyes; buttons; tools |
contact dermatitis |
? |
1 |
| Cocamide DEA |
foaming agent (lather) |
shampoo |
? |
? |
1 |
| Cocamidopropyl betaine |
detergent |
soaps |
irritates skin and eyes; "penetration enhancer"; "can be contaminated with diethanolamine" (indirectly causes cancer) |
? |
? |
| Copper oxide |
? |
chicken feed |
? |
ore? |
? |
| Coumarin |
flavoring |
Mexican synthetic vanilla |
toxic to the liver |
Tonka tree |
1 |
USA |
| Diactyl-TarTaric Acid Esters of Monoglyceride (DATEM) |
emulsifier; volume enhancer |
dough e.g. Panera bagels |
? |
? |
? |
| Diethanolamine (DEA) |
? |
bubble baths; shampoos; soaps; facial cleansers |
hormone disrupter; liver and kidney cancer; forms carcinogens |
? |
? |
| Difethialone |
? |
? |
? |
? |
? |
| Dioxin |
pesticide |
? |
carcinogen; damages skin |
? |
? |
| Deltamethrin |
? |
? |
? |
? |
? |
| Dicalcium phosphate AKA monohydrogen phosphate |
dietary supplement |
cereal; flour; noodles; chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Ethidium bromide |
For staining DNA |
In biology lab |
mutagen (damages DNA); carcinogen |
? |
1 |
| Ethoxyquin |
preservative in pet foods |
e.g. chicken feed |
possibly harmful when ingested; touched; etc. |
? |
1 |
| Ethyl acetate |
? |
? |
A narcotic on the EPAs Hazardous Waste list |
? |
? |
| Ethylene |
fruit ripening |
repressed in Flavr Savr tomato |
? |
naturally produced in fruit; also produced by burning gas |
1 |
| Ethylene glycol |
decreases freezing point of liquids |
automotive antifreeze |
neurological effects; multiple organ failure; death. |
hydrocarbons. |
1 |
| Ferrous carbonate (siderite) |
? |
chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Fluoride |
? |
water supply; toothpaste |
fluorosis; fluoride is an "enzyme poison": meaning it obstructs the metabolism of your cells |
? |
? |
| Formaldehyde (AKA formalin) |
preservative |
foam (bedding; upolstery; car seats); cosmetics; shampoos; preservation of dead animals and human cadavers |
carcinogen; contact dermititis |
? |
1 2 |
| Gelatin |
food additive |
candy; Frappucinos; Jello |
Mad Cow risk |
animal cartilage |
? |
| Glycerin |
moistener |
toothpaste; soap |
? |
veggie oils |
? |
| Glycerol |
sweetener |
food |
mild dieuretic; possibly dangerous for diabetics |
? |
1 |
| Glycerol stearate; Glycerol monostearate; Glyceryl monostearate; Monostearin; Glyceryl stearate |
emulsifier |
many uses; e.g. shampoo |
reproductive cancer risk |
? |
1 |
| Guar gum |
thickener |
food; cosmetics |
? |
legume Cyamopsis tetragonolobus |
1 |
| Hexane |
solvent for extraction of oils |
traces found in oils e.g. soya; which end up in foods; skin products |
neurotoxin |
? |
? |
| Isopropyl alcohol |
? |
? |
? |
petroleum |
? |
| Lecithin |
emulsifier; also replacement for cocoa butter |
? |
? |
soy |
1 |
| Limonene |
? |
? |
carcinogen |
? |
? |
| Linalool |
? |
? |
a narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders |
? |
? |
| Locust Bean Gum; Carob Bean Gum |
thickener |
? |
abdominal pain and diarrhoea |
? |
1 |
| Magnesium Tallowate |
cleaning agent |
soap |
unknown |
? |
1 |
| Manganous oxide |
? |
chicken feed |
? |
ore? |
? |
| Menadione Diemethylpyrimidinol bisulfate |
? |
chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Mercury |
lighting; gold sequestering |
laptop computer displays; compact fluorescent bulbs |
attacks the brain |
naturally occurring element |
1 |
| Methanol |
? |
fuels (denaturer) |
possible carcinogen; CNS depressant; causes acidosis; gets converted to formaldehyde |
? |
? |
| Methionine supplement |
nutrient (amino acid) |
chicken feed |
|
? |
? |
| Methylisothiazolinone |
biocide (kills parasites) |
shampoo; lotions; cosmetics; industrial settings; paints |
contact burns; dermititis; allergic sensitization; if taken orally it enters brain and spinal cord: kills brain cells |
? |
1 2 |
| Methylparaben |
preservative |
soaps |
irritates skin; affective male reproductive system; paraben is an estrogen mimic |
? |
1 |
| Modified food starch |
thickener; also sweetener (when it refers to MSG) |
food |
FDA says any chemicals used to "modify" the starch do not need to be reported to consumer! |
? |
? |
| Monocalcium Phosphate |
leavening agent in bread |
bread; chicken feed |
? |
? |
1 |
| Monoethanolamine (MEA) |
? |
bubble baths; shampoos; soaps; facial cleansers |
hormone disrupter; liver and kidney cancer; forms carcinogens |
? |
? |
| Monosodium glutamate (MSG) |
sweetener |
Chinese take out; other foods |
? |
? |
|
| Nicarbazin |
antibiotic |
fed to chickens |
? |
? |
|
| Nitrous acid (HNO2) |
? |
? |
mutagen (damages DNA); carcinogen |
? |
|
| Neomycin sulfate |
topical antibiotic |
? |
contact dermatitis |
? |
1 |
| Paraffinum liquidum |
lubricant emollient |
soaps |
dry skin; penetration enhancer; can be contaminated with PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) which are linked to breast cancer |
? |
? |
| Parfum |
fragrance |
soaps |
potentially some of: hormone disruption; toxic to liver; neurotoxin; causes asthma; headaches; depression; mood swings; etc |
? |
? |
| Pectin |
gelling/thickening agent; demulcent |
food; throat lozenges |
? |
fruits (it is in the cell wall) |
1 |
| PEG-5 cocamide |
emulsifier; foam stabilizer; surfactant |
shampoo |
? |
? |
? |
| PEG-14 M sorbitan laurate |
thickener solvent; emulsifier; surfacant |
soaps |
"unsafe for use on damaged skin"; "penetration enhancer"; irritates skin; "can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide which are linked to breast cancer" |
? |
? |
| PEG-150 distearate |
thickener solvent; emulsifier; surfacant |
soaps |
"penetration enhancer"; irritates skin; "can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide which are linked to breast cancer" |
? |
? |
| PEG-300 |
surfactant |
? |
skin irritation; probably harmful to kidney+liver if ingested |
? |
1 |
| PEG-80 |
thickener solvent; emulsifier; surfacant |
soaps |
"penetration enhancer"; irritates skin; "can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide which are linked to breast cancer" |
? |
? |
| Pentane |
? |
? |
narcosis; irritation |
? |
1 |
| Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR); also known as E476 |
emulsifier; replacement for cocoa butter |
choclate & other candies |
link to hyperactivity in children; concern that it might change offspring sex ratio; I am not finding much research |
possibly derived from animals |
1 2 |
| Polypropylene terephthalate |
forms film; type of polyester providing feeling of smoothness |
soaps |
carcinogen linked to pancreatic cancer; contains phthalate which mimics estrogen and is linked to breast cancer |
? |
? |
| Polyquarternium-7 |
forms film on skin making it seem soft |
soaps |
"contact dermatitis"; "formaldehyde releaser"; can be contaminated with acrylamide which is a CNS toxin |
? |
? |
| Potassium benzoate |
preservative |
drinks e.g. soda |
in presence of Vitamin C and heat this chemical forms benzene |
? |
1 |
| Potassium phosphate (E340) |
? |
food |
hypocalcaemia |
? |
1 |
| Propylparaben |
preservative |
soaps |
irritates skin; affects male reproductive system; paraben is an estrogen mimic |
? |
1 |
| Quaternium-15 |
formaldehyde-releasing agent (preservative) |
cosmetics; toiletry; skin moisturizers; hair products |
allergies; dermatitis; breaks down to formaldehyde |
? |
1 |
| Saccharin |
sweetener |
drinks e.g. soda; also sold by itself |
not metabolized; inhibits uptake of vitamin biotin |
? |
1 |
| Sodium benzoate |
preservative |
drinks e.g. soda |
in presence of Vitamin C and heat this chemical forms benzene |
? |
1 |
| Sodium bicarbonate |
leavening agent; "freshness"; antacid |
foods; toothpaste |
? |
from earth but purified |
? |
| Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate |
detergent/booster; co-surfactant |
shampoo |
? |
oleochemical or petrochemical |
? |
| Sodium hydroxide AKA lye |
pH (acidity) adjuster |
soaps |
irritates skin & eyes; can burn. |
? |
? |
| Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) |
dispersant; detergent (association colloid) |
toothpaste; soaps |
dry skin; irritates eyes; "penetration enhancer"; "can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane" which causes breast cancer |
coconut oil |
? |
| Sodium monofluorophosphate |
tooth decay prevention |
toothpaste (e.g. Toms) |
? |
fluorospar ore (calcium fluoride) |
? |
| Sodium phosphate (E339) |
? |
food |
hypocalcaemia |
? |
1 |
| Sodium selenite |
? |
chicken feed |
toxic? |
? |
? |
| Sodium stearate |
Cleaning agent in soap (association colloid) |
soap |
? |
? |
? |
| Sucralose (Splenda) |
sweetener |
foods; also sold by itself |
enlarged liver & kidneys |
chlorination of sucrose |
1 |
| TBHQ (tertiary- butyl-hydroquinone) |
antioxidant (to prevent oxidation of frying oil) |
food (candy and fast food) |
toxic to kidney & bladder; causes ataxia in rats; may cause child behavioral problems |
petroleum -- TBHQ is a form of butane |
1 2 |
| Tetrasodium EDTA |
preservative |
soaps |
irritates eyes and skin; contact dermatitis; contact allergies; penetration enhancer |
? |
? |
| Tetrasodium Etidronate |
water softener |
soaps |
? |
? |
? |
| Triclosan |
antibacterial; pesticide |
detergents; dish-washing liquids; soaps; deodorants; cosmetics; lotions; anti-microbial creams; various toothpastes; in various plastics and textiles. |
carcinogen; breaks down into dioxin |
? |
1 2 |
| Triethanolamine (TEA) |
? |
bubble baths; shampoos; soaps; facial cleansers |
hormone disrupter; liver and kidney cancer; forms carcinogens |
? |
? |
| White mineral oil |
? |
Jujyfruits candy |
carcinogen (same as mineral oil) |
petroleum |
1 2 |
| Xanthan Gum (E415) |
thickener; prevents sedimentation; "mouth feel" |
food e.g. ice cream |
? |
bacterium |
1 2 |
| Xylitol |
flavor; sweetener; antibiotic |
toothpaste |
may be toxic to dogs |
birch trees |
1 |
| Yellow dye #6 |
coloring |
food |
kidney & adrenal gland tumors in rats |
? |
1 |
Norway; Sweden |
| Zinc oxide (zincite) |
? |
chicken feed |
? |
? |
? |
| Zinc Pyrithione |
? |
anti-dandruff shampoo |
kills skin cells |
? |
1 |
