25 HIDDEN HOUSEHOLD TOXINS

By: Gleason Center Editors, Dr. Daniel Gleason DC

1.  Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo - Formulas are designed to overpower the stain itself; by using highly toxic substances.  Perchlorethylene: known carcinogen, damages liver, kidney and nervous system.  Ammonium Hydroxide: corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory track.  Protect kids’ safety wile crawling.

2.  Mineral Oil - Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. This petroleum derived substance, coats the skin just like plastic wrap covers any given vessel. The skin’s natural immune barrier is disrupted as this plastic coating inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb (moisture and nutrition). Your skin’s ability to release toxins is impeded by this “plastic wrap”, which can cause the skin to age prematurely promote acne and other disorders by slowing down normal cell development.
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3.  Air Fresheners - Most air fresheners work by coating your nasal passages with an oily film or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxins are: Formaldehyde, a highly toxic, known carcinogen; Phenol,which can cause your skin to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives.

4.  Isopropyl Alcohol - This is a solvent and denaturant (poisonous substance that changes another substance’s natural qualities). Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after-shave lotions, fragrances and many other cosmetics. This petroleum-derived substance is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. According to “A Consumer’s of Cosmetic Ingredients”, inhalation or ingestion may cause headaches, flushed skin, dizziness, depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, and coma.

5.  Propylene Glycol - Also known as PG, PEG, Propanediol, Dihydroxypropane, Methylethylene, Glycol, or Propane.  As a wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. There is no difference between the PG used in industry (brake & hydraulic fluid, pain, floor wax) and the PG used in personal skin care products. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) stripping the natural moisture factor, and in make-up, hair products, lotions, after-shave, deodorants, mouthwashes, toothpaste, and food processing. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance. Skin contact, dermatitis, kidney damage, liver abnormalities can inhibit cell growth in human tests and damage membranes causing rashes, dry skin & surface damage.

6.  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate - Used as detergents and surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Both are also used in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioners and about 90% of all shampoos and products that produce foam. According to the American Collage of Toxicology, both SLS/SLES can cause malformation in children’s eyes and damage to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties. It is possibly the most dangerous of all ingredients in personal care products.

7.  Chlorine - Exposure to chlorine in tap water, showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents, food processing, sewage systems and many other venues, can effect health by contributing to asthma, hay fever, anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium, diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eyes, mouth, nose, throat, lung, skin, stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure and nausea.

8.  DEA, MEA, & TEA - These are used in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. One should therefore look for names like Cocamide DEA or MEA, Lauramide DEA, etc. These are hormone-disrupting chemicals and are known to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These are commonly found in products that foam including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers. CBS’ Roberta Baskin revealed that a recent government report shows DEA and MEA are readily absorbed in the skin.

9.  Artificial Colors & Dyes - Some artificial colors, such as Blue 1 and Green 3, are carcinogenic. Impurities found in commercial batches of other cosmetic colors such as D&C Red33, FD&C Yellow5 and FD&C Yellow 6 have been shown to cause cancer not only when ingested, but also when applied to the skin. Some artificial coal tar colors contain heavy metal impurities including arsenic and lead, which are carcinogenic The use of permanent or semi-permanent hair color products, particularly black an dark brown colors, is associated with increased incidence of human cancer, including lymphoma, myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease.

10.  Fragrance - Fragrance is present in most deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care and baby products. Many of the compounds in fragrance are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. “Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most or all of them are synthetic. The FDA reports have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing, vomiting and allergic skin irritation as possible side effects. Exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavior changes.” Say Dr. Blaylock and Dr. G. Young.

11.  Imidazolidinyl Urea & DMDM Hydantoin - These release formaldehyde into your body. The Mayo Clinic says formaldehyde can irritate the respiratoroy system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Serious side effects include weakening of the immune system and cancer.

12.  Bronopol - Bronopol (2-bromo-2nitropropane-1, 3-diol) may break down in products into formaldehyde and also cause the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines under certain conditions. ‘Natural’ and both expensive and inexpensive lines of cosmetics often use this chemical. Many baby care products may also include bronopol.

13.  Dioxane - A wide range of personal care products including shampoos, hair conditioners, cleansers, lotions, and creams, household soaps and cleaners, contain surfactants or detergents such as ethoxylated alcohols, polysorbates, and laureths. These ingredients are generally contaminated with high concentrations of the highly volatile 1-4 dioxane which has been found to cause cancer in lab animals.

14.  Talcum Powder - TALC is carcinogenic. Inhaling talc and using it in the genital area are  associated with increased risk of ovarian and lung cancer.

15.  Lanolin - Lanolin itself is perfectly safe. But cosmetic-grade lanolin can be contaminated with carcinogenic pesticides such as DDT, dieldrin, and lindane, in addition to other neurotoxic pesticides.

16.  Parabens (methyl-, ethyl, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-) - Parabens weaken estrogenic effects. A study found that butyl paraben damaged sperm formation in the tests of mice. Parabens break down in the body into p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which has estrogenic activity in human breast-cancer cell cultures.

17.  Silica Crystalline - Silica is carcinogenic.

18.  Ammonia - It is a very volatile chemical, damaging the eyes, respiratory tract and skin.

19.  Bleach - It is a strong corrosive that irritates or burns the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting.  WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia: it causes DEADLY fumes.

20.  Dishwasher Detergents - Highly concentrated chlorine. It is the number one cause of child poisonings.

21.  Drain Cleaner - Drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane.  Lye: caustic, burns skin and eyes: if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: corrosive, eye and skin irritant: damages kidneys, liver digestive tract.  Trichloroethane: eye, skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver, kidneys.

22.  Furniture Polish - Petroleum Distillates: highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer.  Phenol: (air fresheners) Nitobenzene: absorbed through skin, extremely toxic.

23.  Mold and Mildew Cleaners - Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite, a corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death.  Formaldehyde: highly toxic, known carcinogen.  Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, skin can cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.

24.  Oven Cleaner - Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin & eyes.  Inhibits reflexes: causes severe tissue damage if swallowed.
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25.  Toilet Bowl Cleaners - Hydrochloric acid: highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes, damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite bleach: corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract.  May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested.

Source: “Living Balanced, Healthy Mind & Body Reference Guide”, Stacey A. Kimbrell, Chemical Awareness Advocate.

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