How many of us have not bought harsh cleaning chemicals, drain cleaners, or even something so seemingly harmless as air fresheners without thinking twice about what’s inside? I know I have; for most of my adult life, I used household cleaners that made my throat burn and eyes tear. But it was what everyone else was using, and you could buy them in a regular grocery store, so they must be ok, right? I thought I was probably overly sensitive as usual. Allergic to everything…

Then, I started reading up on chemicals and toxins and started to question if these things were really safe. Turns out they’re not. I made it a personal goal to exchange all my toxic products for natural, healthy ones, and if I couldn’t find a good replacement, well, I’d just have to go without or find another way to clean. I’m happy to say I was successful (it of course helps enormously that everyone now is so much more aware of these issues – there are even green janitorial supplies these days) and in two coming posts, I will share my favorite green cleaning products for kitchens and bathrooms as well as the rest of the house.

I know I sound like a broken record, but make sure you always read the ingredients on anything you buy, even if it’s a product that claims to be green and natural. Here is a list of 10 ingredients (in alphabetical order) to avoid whenever possible:

1,4-Dichlorobenzene
A.k.a. p-Chlorophenyl chloride; Benzene, 1,4-dichloro-; Benzene, p-dichloro-; p-Dichlorobenzol; Paradichlorobenzol; Paradichlorobenzene; p-Dichlorobenzene; 4-Dichlorobenzene; 1,4-Dichlorobenzene; Dichlorobenzene.

Can be found in moth balls and crystals, toilet bowl deodorizers and disinfectants, and the Merck Index states: “Vapors may cause irritation to skin, throat, and eyes. Prolonged exposure to high concentration may cause weakness, dizziness, loss of weight, liver injury may develop.” The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services calls it “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” and there are plenty of case studies that makes you think twice about using moth balls. Here are two:

“The lenses of a twenty-seven year old woman became completely cataractous 12-14 months after an attack of hepatic enlargement, jaundice, and loss of weight which was ascribed to excessive exposure to vapors of para-dichlorobenzene in her home; the exposure had been discontinued for one year before development of cataracts.”

“A second woman, aged twenty-five, had monocular, immature, anterior peripheral cortical cataract with a history of jaundice and weight loss six months earlier; it was suspected that she had been poisoned by vapors from 2 cans of para-dichlorobenzene which were kept in a closet in which in the previous year the patient spent considerable time sewing.” [Grant, W.M. Toxicology of the Eye. 3rd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 1986., p. 321]

Alkylphenol ethoxylates
Derived from petroleum, and also known as APEs, these surfactants (a substance that helps dissolve grease and stains and keeps them suspended in the water instead of being re-deposited on the item) are found in many liquid laundry detergents, disinfectants, household cleaners, contraceptives (spermicide), pesticides, shampoos and conditioners. APEs are hormone disruptors (they mimic estrogen) and do not break down easily in the environment. One APE in particular, p-nonylphenol, caused estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to multiply in a test tube study. Look for products with surfactants made from corn, coconut, and soy instead.

Ammonia
Ammonia, a colorless gas composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, can be found in many de-greasers and cleaners, especially those intended for glass and stainless steel, and ovens. In household cleaners, it is usually mixed with water and listed as ammonium hydroxide. Not just horrible-smelling, ammonia irritates the mucous membranes and skin. If accidently mixed with bleach, you end up with a poisonous gas. And ammonia is also thought to contribute to asthma.

Chlorine
Used to purify swimming pools and our drinking water, chlorine can also be found in many household cleaners (disinfectants and toilet bowl cleaners in particular), automatic dishwashing detergents, laundry detergents, bleach, and in paper products bleached using chlorine. According to the EPA, using bleached coffee filters can result in a lifetime exposure to dioxin that “exceeds acceptable levels”.

It is often listed as hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite. It is a toxic gas (used in chemical warfare during WWI), and studies in Europe suggest that children who start swimming in chlorinated pools before the age of 2 may have an increased risk of a common infant lung infection, and possibly asthma and respiratory allergies later in life.

Other studies have found that acute exposure to low levels of chlorine results in eye, nose, and throat irritation, sneezing, excessive salivation, general excitement, and restlessness. Higher concentrations causes difficulty in breathing, violent coughing, nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, dizziness, headache, choking, laryngeal edema, acute tracheobronchitis, chemical pneumonia. Contact with the liquid can result in frostbite burns of the skin and eyes [Genium 1992].

Chronic exposure to low levels of chlorine gas can result in a dermatitis known as chloracne, tooth enamel corrosion, coughing, severe chest pain, sore throat, hemoptysis and increased susceptibility to tuberculosis [Genium 1992].

Dichloromethane
Dichloromethane (a.k.a. DCM or methylene chloride) is a solvent found in adhesives, cleaning solutions, paint, furniture polish, paint strippers, degreasers and wood sealants. It is also used in one of the methods to decaffeinate coffee and tea (!).

It enters the body when you breathe in the vapors, and has been linked to cancer of the liver, pancreas and lungs in lab animals. The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that methylene chloride “may reasonably be anticipated to be a cancer-causing chemical”. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified methylene chloride as “possibly causing cancer in humans”. The EPA has determined that methylene chloride is a probable cancer causing agent in humans.

Formaldehyde
One of the more common indoor air pollutants, formaldehyde is used in many glues, soaps, insulation, building materials, fertilizers, pet shampoos, facial tissue, paper napkins, paper towels, vaccines (as a preservative), clothes (to add permanent-press qualities), and more.

It can cause allergies, cancer, and contribute to asthma. The US Department of Health & Human Services states: “Formaldehyde is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).” If a household or body care product contains formaldehyde, you will find it listed on the label.

Glycol Ethers
2-Butoxyethanol or EGBE (also known as butyl cellosolve, butyl glycol, Dowanol, Bane-Clene and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) is a solvent is found in many household cleaners, especially those intended for glass. It is also often an ingredient in paints, inks, oven cleaners, spot removers, dry cleaning solutions, carpet cleaners, liquid soaps, room and toilet bowl fresheners, and herbicides. Many glycol ethers have almost no smell and you can be overexposed to them without knowing it (the skin can absorb the vapors from the air).

Glycol ethers have been linked to reduced fertility (both in men and women), anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autism, liver and kidney damage, and more. How do you avoid it? It’s difficult, since manufacturers aren’t required to list it on the label, but according to Women’s Voices for the Earth, these products contain EGBE: Lemon Fresh Pine-Sol, Windex Aerosol, Formula 409, Simple Green, and All Purpose Cleaner.

Naptha
A petroleum distillate used in shoe polish, oil paint, moth balls, glass cleaners, and floor and furniture polish. Naptha can cause nausea, headaches, and central nervous system symptoms. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment calls it a substance “known to the state to cause cancer.” The MSDS for Naptha states: “The substance is toxic to skin, eyes, CNS. May be toxic to blood, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, upper respitory tract, ears. Wear suitable protective clothing. In case of insufficient ventilation, wear suitable respiratory equipment”.

Synthetic Fragrance
Synthetic fragrances are everywhere; in household products, body care products, candles, scented trash bags, drawer liners, the list goes on. They are composed of hundreds if not thousands of ingredients that companies are not required to list individually on the label – “fragrance” is enough. Phthalates, a substance we now all know to avoid in plastics, is usually one of those ingredients. It is a hormone disruptor, and according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, some studies link phthalates to liver cancer. The best approach is to avoid using anything that says “synthetic fragrance” or “fragrance” and instead look for products containing organic essential oils. Or buy unscented products.

Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA) & Diethanolamine (DEA)
Solvents, emulsifiers and wetting agents found in body products (in lots of hair colors), laundry detergents, degreasers, household cleaners, oven cleaners, mold and mildew cleaners.

TEA has been found to cause allergy, contact dermatitis, and eczema.

MEA is described by the National Fire Protection Association as “Corrosive. Causes severe eye and skin burns. May be harmful if absorbed through skin or inhaled. Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory system.”

DEA is a skin irritant and the following statement can be found in Ethyl Browning’s Toxicity and Metabolism of Industrial Solvents 2nd ed Vol II: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Solvents “diethanolamine should not be used in products containing N-nitrosating agents, since it may be nitrosated to form N-nitrosodiethanolamine, a liver and nasal cavity carcinogen.”

Read more about these last four (and what to avoid in body care products) in my “10 Toxic Personal Care Ingredients” post.

Dr Samuel Epstein, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, has stated that “carcinogens in cosmetics and personal care products pose greater cancer risks than does food contaminated with carcinogenic pesticides and other industrial carcinogens as they are not detoxified by the liver but reach the general blood circulation directly.”

Another interesting thing to note is that many of these substances are banned or severely restricted in Europe. Why not here? One can argue that the government shouldn’t babysit its citizens and it is up to each and every one to make healthy choices, but let’s face it, who reads every single ingredient on a tube of toothpaste when you’re rushing through the store trying to get home to make dinner? And even if you do, do you know what all those ingredients are and what they do? I do now, but before I started on my quest for a non-toxic (or reduced toxic) life, I didn’t either.

Here are 10 of the worst ones:

Parabens
Methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben can be found in tons of body care products. They are preservatives (I personally think synthetic preservatives in both food and other products are responsible for many health issues, including allergies), that are suspected to increase the risk of certain cancers and disrupt sex hormones. Interestingly, they have been banned in Europe since 2003, but here in the US, they’re everywhere.

Phthalates
Also banned in Europe, Phthalates are chemicals used to increase flexibility and strength of plastics (think vinyl) and can be found in items such as pill coatings, shower curtains, paint, food, medical devices (blood bags, etc.), plastic toys, hair spray, perfume – the list goes on and on. The different kinds are known by different names, but unfortunately, they are often not listed among the ingredients on products. And they can have been added to your food, for example, anywhere in the process of getting it to you – in the bucket used to pick berries, in the containers used to store them, etc.

DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate) is used in vinyl products; DINP (di-isononyl phthalate) can be found in children’s toys; DBP (dibutyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate) are used in cosmetics. As you can see, it is very difficult to avoid being exposed to Phthalates in your daily life. Lab tests have shown that they are carcinogens that can also affect the liver, kidneys, lungs, reproductive system, and increase the risk of stillbirths.

Coal Tar Dyes/Food Coloring

Food Coloring

(a.k.a. artificial color, synthetic dye). Found in foods, drugs, tattoo inks, lots of personal products (hair color, shampoos, in particular those to treat head lice, soap, ointments). When my brother was little, he was very allergic to red candy, and it’s interesting to learn that the common food colorant Allura red AC (a.k.a E129 or FD&C Red #40) is now banned in Sweden, as well as in several other European countries. Coal tar dyes have been found to cause cancer in lab animals, as well as allergic reactions in people. Some claim it may also be contributing to ADD, increasing the risk for Hodgkin’s disease, and liver disease.

Toluene
A solvent found in nail polish, paint, synthetic fragrance, adhesives, inks, gasoline. It may be listed as methylbenzene or phenylmethane. It is an endocrine disruptor and possible carcinogen, inhaling it can damage your kidneys and liver and cause birth defects. Both acute and long-term exposure affects the central nervous system. If you can’t live without nail polish, try Acquarella, a water-based product that got a 1-rating (0 is best 10 worst) from the Environmental Working Group and great reviews from users.

SLS

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES)
A detergent that makes you toothpaste foam, your soap and shampoo lather and your bubble bath bubble. It’s used in thousands cosmetic products and while the jury is still out on the level of toxicity, some claim that it can cause eczema, skin inflammation, contains endocrine disruptors and may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane (a potential carcinogen). And while it may not be toxic on its own, in combination with other ingredients, it can can form carcinogenic nitrosamines. And according to studies done in Japan, it can damage DNA in cells.

Propylene glycol
A solvent, used among other things as the killing agent in pitfall traps, it is also found in paint, floor wax, stick deodorants, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, lotions, baby wipes, foods, and many other products. It is used in personal care products as a humectant (preventing things from drying out) in spite of the fact that it is recognized as a neurotoxin by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, and the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with it. The Material Safety Data Sheet states “may be toxic to the central nervous system”, “may cause reproductive and fetal effects” and “prolonged exposure can produce target organs damage”. Different studies have concluded that it causes skin dehydration and thickening of the skin (Derm. Beruf Umwelt, Jul/Aug, 1988), contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatologists, January, 1991), and alters cell membranes (Human Reproduction, Feb 1990). In Europe, it’s limited to very restricted non-food uses.

Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA)

Diethanolamine (DEA)

These are solvents, emulsifiers and wetting agents, and are found in many personal products and cosmetics such as facial cleaners, soaps, skin lotions, bubble baths, shampoos, conditioners, eye gels, moisturizers, shaving foam, laundry detergent, etc. The MSDS for DEA states that it causes skin and eye irritation, may cause blood, liver and kidney damage, and may also form cancer causing nitrosamines. Studies in baby mice show that DEA inhibits the absorption of choline, which is required for brain development. DEA and TEA in combination with preservatives can form nitrosamines, which numerous studies have linked to cancer.

TEA is classified as a Schedule 3 substance by the Chemical Weapons Convention since it can be used to manufacture nitrogen mustard (cytotoxic chemotherapy agents similar to mustard gas).

Look out for Cocamide DEA, Cocamide Diethanolamine, DEA Lauryl Sulfate, Diethanolamine Lauryl Sulfate, Lauramide DEA, Lauramide Diethanolamine, Linoleamide DEA, Linoleamide Diethanolamine, Oleamide DEA, Oleamide Diethanolamine, TEA or Triethanolamine on product labels.

DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservatives found in many personal products that have been found to release formaldehyde. You can find it in cosmetics, shampoos and conditioners, bubble baths, baby wipes, skin care products and detergents. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. They may be listed as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, Diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea, Quaternium 15.

Synthetic Fragrance
Synthetic (and artificial) anything is bad news in my opinion, and synthetic fragrances are found everywhere, not only in tons of cosmetics and personal products, but also in many household products (candles, room fresheners, scented trash bags). Synthetic fragrances consists of hundreds to thousands different ingredients, not listed separately on the label, so you can never be sure what it is you are exposed to, but phthalates are commonly found. In 1986, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences identified fragrance ingredients as one of six categories of neurotoxins. Watch out for “synthetic fragrance”, or just “fragrance” on the label. Organically (or even better, biodynamically) produced essential oils are the safe alternative.

Triclosan
A synthetic antibacterial agent found in tons of personal and household products such as soap, mouthwash, shaving cream, toothpaste, deodorants, plastic cutting boards, shoe insoles, cleaning supplies, bedding, trash bags, socks, etc. By now, we’re all aware that using antibacterials on a regular basis can lead to an increase in antibiotics-resistant bacteria, but triclosan is bad on so many levels. Research has shown it is an endocrine disruptor, liver and inhalation toxicant, may disrupt thyroid function, and can degrade into a form of dioxin, a class of chemicals linked to a broad range of toxicities including cancer (Lores 2005). Triclosan was also found in 58% of 85 streams across the U.S (Kolpin 2002), and studies show that triclosan in tap water can react with residual chlorine from standard water disinfecting procedures to form a variety of chlorinated byproducts at low levels, including chloroform, a suspected human carcinogen (Fiss 2007).

This is unfortunately not the be all and end all list of bad ingredients, but these are among the worst. Keep an eye out and make sure you study labels closely so you can avoid these toxic substances as much as possible.

For a list of toxic ingredients in household and cleaning products, check out my “10 Toxic Cleaning Product Ingredients And How They May Harm You” post.