Chemicals to Avoid

Monsanto Chemical Company - History

2008-04-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

Who and what is the Monsanto Corporation? The Monsanto Chemical Company has a diverse and interesting history. Monsanto is the leading chemical producer for agricultural products. They manufacture the best-selling herbicide RoundUp (as well as other herbicides). They are also the producer of leading seed brands such as DEKALB and Asgrow and they are heavily involved in providing farmers and seed companies with the necessary biotechnology for insect protection and herbicide tolerance.

Monsanto is the creator and distributor of Bovine Growth Hormone (BST). They also have a long history with the soft drink industry in the manufacturing of both saccharin and aspartame (NutraSweet).

Monsanto was established in 1901 in St. Louis, MO. How exactly has Monsanto spent its 100+ years in business and what are some of the more notable facets of its world influence? Let's find out.

Founder John Francis Queeny spent 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry before the inception of Monsanto. While still an employee of Meyer Brothers Drug Company, he depleted his entire savings and borrowed from a Chicago soft drink supplier to form a new company to produce products for the food and pharmaceutical industry. The new company was named for his wife, whose maiden name was Olga Monsanto. Monsanto was born on November 29, 1901.

In 1902, Monsanto's first product was none other than saccharin. Between the years of 1903 and 1905 their entire saccharin production was shipped to a growing soft drink company based in Georgia called Coca-Cola. In 1904 Monsanto introduced caffeine and vanillin to the growing soft drink industry.

By 1915, Monsanto sales hit the one million mark. Approximately two years later Monsanto began producing aspirin. Monsanto was the top aspirin producer in the U.S. until the 1980s.

In 1917, the first suit over the safety of saccharin was filed by the U.S. Government. This case was filed at Monsanto's request as a test case and was dismissed in 1925. In 1981, the safety of saccharin was again challenged. No conclusive scientific evidence was ever presented, however, so in 2001 the warning label was removed from products.

In 1985, G.D. Searle & Company bought Monsanto. At this point Monsanto became even more involved in pharmaceuticals and the sweetener industry. In addition, NutraSweet was acquired by Monsanto.

World War II was the catalyst to a new partnership between Monsanto and the U.S. Government. Monsanto became involved in research for the Manhattan Project which led to the world's first nuclear bombs. Until the late 1980s, Monsanto also operated the Mound Laboratory (a nuclear facility) on behalf of the Federal Government.

By 1955, Monsanto had branched out in the petroleum business. They acquired Lion Oil essentially to provide themselves with petrochemical materials. With the acquisition of Lion Oil, Monsanto was also introduced into the fertilizer business. This brought them the industries of hydrocarbon technology, oil and gas reserves, as well as retail gasoline businesses. They sold their service stations and refineries in 1972.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Monsanto was the leading producer of Agent Orange (containing the chemical dioxin) for the U.S. Military in Vietnam. Between the years of 1962 and 1970, the U.S. military sprayed 72 million liters of Agent Orange on over one million Vietnam civilians and over 100,000 U.S. troops. Within ten years of the end of the war, 9,170 veterans had filed claims for disabilities believed to be caused by Agent Orange.

In 1977, Monsanto entered a joint petrochemical venture with Conoco Oil Company. They were bought out at a later time and they utilized the profit to acquire a pharmaceutical company. By this time, G.D. Searle & Co was successful in getting the U.S. FDA to approve aspartame (NutraSweet) for a second time. In 2000, Monsanto sold its sweetener business (including NutraSweet) for a tidy sum of $440 million.

By the late 1990s, Monsanto turned its focus to agriculture and started buying seed companies and genetic laboratories. In December 1999, Monsanto and Pharmicia & UpJohn announced an impending merger. Upon the completed merger in March 2000, the new company Pharmicia Corporation was created. The agricultural portion of the corporation has retained the Monsanto name.

What does the future hold for Monsanto? They have formed a wheat industry advisory committee to provide advice and support for the best way to incorporate biotechnology into the wheat industry. They are also marketing the drug L-DOPA (used to treat Parkinson's). They have also placed the first U.S. corporate order to GM for pickup trucks that use ethanol-based E85 fuel. This is part of a larger move on their part to focus new research toward the use of bioenergy resources. They are also currently involved in the current controversy involving recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone and the labeling of U.S. milk.

more chemicals to avoid from hair coloring

2008-04-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

* 6-Methoxy-2,3-Pyridinediamine and its HCl salt

* 2,3-Naphthalenediol

* 2,4-Diaminodiphenylamine

* 2,6-Bis(2-Hydroxyethoxy)-3,5-Pyridinediamine

* 2-Methoxymethyl-p-Aminophenol

* 4,5-Diamino-1-Methylpyrazole and its HCl salt

* 4,5-Diamino-1-((4-Chlorophenyl)Methyl)-1H-Pyrazole Sulfate

* 4-Chloro-2-Aminophenol

* 4-Hydroxyindole

* 4-Methoxytoluene-2,5-Diamine and its HCl salt

* 5-Amino-4-Fluoro-2-Methylphenol Sulfate

* N,N-Diethyl-m-Aminophenol

* N,N-Dimethyl-2,6-Pyridinediamine and its HCl salt

* N-Cyclopentyl-m-Aminophenol

* N-(2-Methoxyethyl)-p-phenylenediamine and its HCl salt

* 2,4-Diamino-5-methylphenetol and its HCl salt

* 1,7-Naphthalenediol

* 3,4-Diaminobenzoic acid

* 2-Aminomethyl-p-aminophenol and its HCl salt

* Solvent Red 1 (CI 12150)

* Acid Orange 24 (CI 20170)

* Acid Red 73 (CI 27290)

Diesel Fumes Damage Your Brain

2008-04-08T13:42:00.001-07:00

Inhaled diesel exhaust triggers a stress response in the brain. This could have damaging long-term effects on brain function in people living in areas with high traffic pollution.

Small particles of soot, or nanoparticles, can travel up the nose and lodge in the brain. It is conceivable that this could interfere with normal brain function and information processing.

10 male volunteers, aged 18 to 39, were placed in a room filled with exhaust from a diesel engine for one hour. After about 30 minutes, EEG brain wave patterns displayed a stress response, suggesting changes in information processing in the brain cortex.

Sources:

Reuters March 10, 2008

Particle and Fibre Toxicology March 11, 2008; 5:4 (Full-Length Article PDF)

Poison skin moisturizers

2008-03-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the most common suspicious ingredients:

Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?
Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system.
Phenol carbolic acid– Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
Acrylamide– Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)– Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine”, a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.
Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
Dioxane– Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin.

Dioxane’s carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by “vacuum stripping”. Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as “comes from coconut”.

So, do you want to put these chemicals on your skin? Hopefully not...

You’d be better served by switching to skin care products made of plant names you recognize, can pronounce, and could even eat (if you had to).

Sunscreen Myth

2008-03-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

The idea that sunscreen prevents cancer is a myth. It's a myth promoted by a profit-seeking tag-team effort between the cancer industry and the sunscreen industry. The sunscreen industry makes money by selling lotion products that actually contain cancer-causing chemicals. It then donates a portion of that money to the cancer industry through non-profit groups like the American Cancer Society which, in turn, run heart-breaking public service ads urging people to use sunscreen to "prevent cancer."

The scientific evidence, however, shows quite clearly that sunscreen actually promotes cancer by blocking the body's absorption of ultraviolet radiation, which produces vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D, as recent studies have shown, prevents up to 77 of ALL cancers in women (breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, multiple myeloma... you name it). Meanwhile, the toxic chemical ingredients used in most sunscreen products are actually carcinogenic and have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA. They get absorbed right through the skin (a porous organ that absorbs most substances it comes into contact with) and enter the bloodstream.

The benefits of sunscreen are a myth. Proponents say sunscreen prevents sunburn, but in fact, the real cause of sunburn is not merely UV exposure: It is a lack of antioxidant nutrition. Start eating lots of berries and microalgae (spirulina, astaxanthin, blue-green algae, etc.), and you'll build up an internal sunscreen that will protect your skin from sunburn from the inside out. Sunburn is actually caused by nutritional deficiencies that leave the skin vulnerable to DNA mutations from radiation, but if you boost your nutrition and protect your nervous system with plant-based nutrients, you'll be naturally resistant to sunburn. The same nutrients, by the way, also protect the optic nerve and eyes from radiation damage. That's why the consumption of berries and carrots, for example, has historically been associated with healthy eye function. (The same nutrients that protect the eyes also protect the skin.)

Medical nonsense
If sunscreen is so bad for humans, you might ask, then why do so many doctors recommend using it? This might be hard for you to believe, but it wasn't too long ago that doctors routinely recommended smoking cigarettes, too. The Journal of the American Medical Association, in fact, ran numerous ads promoting Camels as "recommended by more doctors than any other cigarette!" Doctors talked up the "benefits" of smoking cigarettes, urging people to start smoking in order to improve brain function or even -- get this -- make their teeth stronger!

The truth is doctors are easily influenced by commercial interests and can be readily convinced to recommend practically any product, no matter how toxic, unhealthy or deadly to consumers. Just look at how many doctors wrote prescriptions for Vioxx, for example, after being visited by a Vioxx drug rep pushing it as a "miracle drug" for joint pain.

Also keep in mind that doctor-prescribed medications are the fourth leading cause of death in America today. About 100,000 Americans die each year from following the advice of their doctor. Does it really make any sense to get your health advice from a group of professionals who kill more Americans each year than all the terrorists have ever killed in the history of this country? Besides, doctors know that if they start recommending sunlight and vitamin D, they'll lose patients and profits because people will start getting well and have no need to keep visiting the doctor. Vitamin D, as you will learn in our free report, The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D, prevents not only cancer, but also diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, heart disease and obesity. It's the miracle nutrient of the millennium, and yet the entire medical profession tries desperately to pretend that vitamin D has no biological function whatsoever. Hence the support of sunscreen (the anti-vitamin D product).

Sunscreen directly promotes vitamin D deficiency. You show me a person who regularly uses sunscreen, and I'll show you a person who's on the road towards cancer and other degenerative diseases. People who use sunscreen are killing themselves and they don't even know it!

The sunscreen marketing con
The marketing of sunscreen is another great example of consumer product companies fabricating a need in order to sell a high-profit product made mostly with toxic chemicals. There is no need for sunscreen, but the cancer industry and sunscreen manufacturers have created a fictitious need through a campaign of fear and disinformation, hypnotizing practically the entire population into believing one of the most ridiculous ideas in the universe: that sunlight is bad for human health.

Think about it. Our ancestors did not have indoor lighting; they exposed their skin to the sun regularly. They didn't run and hide from the sun, they used it as nourishment to generate a crucial vitamin that supports human health in a multitude of ways. The idea that "the sun is bad for you" makes about as much sense as "water is bad for you" or "the Earth is flat." This persistent myth was invented, marketed and publicized by an industry that profits from a gullible public believing demonstrable falsehoods.

But why would the cancer industry go along with the deception, you might ask? Because the continued commercial success of the cancer industry depends on more people getting cancer. In previous articles, I've clearly shown that the cancer industry has no interest whatsoever in preventing cancer. The industry, in fact, takes steps to interfere with prevention efforts and thereby ensure the growth in the number of future cancer patients.

The American Cancer Society, for example, still will not recommend that anyone take vitamin D supplements, even though the vitamin can prevent nearly 4 out of 5 cancers. The cancer industry simply has no interest in preventing cancer. It is only interested in treating cancer and profiting from those treatments. (That's why genuine cancer cures have been routinely suppressed, censored or discredited in the United States.) Read my book, Natural Health Solutions and the Conspiracy to Keep You From Knowing About Them, to learn the shocking truth about how the cancer industry really operates in America today.

The promotion of sunscreen products is a way for the cancer industry to ensure future profits from the treatment of cancer. The more people use sunscreen products, the more they'll get cancer. And that's due to two primary reasons: 1) Sunscreen blocks vitamin D production, a nutrient that strongly prevents cancer, and 2) Sunscreen products almost always contain cancer-causing chemicals that are absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream where they cause severe DNA damage, leading to cancer.

Seven important questions about sunscreen
The next time you see some public service advertisement urging you to smother yourself and your children with sunscreen chemicals, think hard before taking action. Ask yourself these seven commonsense questions:

1) Is the sun really dangerous to humans? If so, how did humans survive for the last 350,000 years on planet Earth?

2) Have the chemicals used in sunscreen products ever been safety tested or approved by the FDA? (The answer is no.)

3) Who financially benefits when you keep buying and using sunscreen products?

4) What is the environmental impact of sunscreen chemicals washing off into the ocean, a lake, a swimming pool or being washed down the drain in your shower?

5) Sunscreen manufacturers say the skin doesn't absorb their chemicals. If that's true, then how do nicotine patches work? How do transdermal drugs get absorbed through the skin if sunscreen chemicals don't? (Answer: ALL these chemicals get absorbed through the skin. The skin is not selective about what it chooses to absorb.)

6) If the sun is so dangerous, then why is the vitamin generated by sunlight (vitamin D) so healthy for humans? Why would humans evolve a mechanism for generating a vitamin from sunlight if we weren't supposed to be exposed to sunlight in the first place?

7) If sunlight is so dangerous, then why is virtually every living creature on planet Earth dependent on sunlight for survival? Plants use sunlight to generate their nutrition, too, and most animals eat either plants or other animals that originally ate plants. Nearly all life on planet Earth is powered by sunlight. Why does the cancer industry believe sunlight causes death when, in reality, sunlight delivers life?

Once you answer these questions, the reality of the situation becomes obvious: Sunlight is good for you, and sunscreen is a hoax.

Action items
Be sure to read our free report on this: The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D. This provides tips on how to safely gauge your level of exposure to sunlight. Don't just rush out and get burned; boost your nutrition and work up a natural tan as nature intended.

See the article: Vitamin D slashes cancer risk by 77 percent.

Visit our topic page on Vitamin D.

If you choose to buy sunscreen, only buy natural sunscreen products containing no petrochemicals! One brand I recommend is Caribbean Blue Natural Basics "Sun Shield." You can find more at www.gocaribbeanblue.com

Smearing berries on your skin also works as a natural sunscreen, as does smearing aloe vera gel on your skin. Amazon Herb Co. distributors use a product called Camu C Serum as a natural suncreen. It works great! http://www.amazondreams.amazonherb.net

The best sunscreen, however, is an internal sunscreen built with nutrition. Eat chlorella, spirulina, goji berries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, astaxanthin, carrots and nutrient-rich superfoods to boost your skin's natural UV protection (takes about 30 days of nutrition to boost skin levels).

Natural Consumer Products Found Contaminated with Cancer-Causing 1,4-Dioxane

2008-03-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

A cancer-causing compound called 1,4-dioxane has been found in some of the most commonly used petroleum-based cosmetics by a study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association, including products from Kiss My Face, Nutribiotic, Jason, Ecover, Citrus Magic, 365, Alba, Lifetree, Giovanni, Seventh Generation, Method, Earth Friendly Products, Sea-Chi Organics and many other brands . 1,4-dioxane (often just called dioxane) is a clear, colorless, organic compound that's a liquid at room temperature and is a known human carcinogen.
1,4-Dioxane causes cancer!!

Also, the OCA has urged consumers to read ingredients labels, and avoid all consumer care products made with the following ingredients (or words in the ingredients):

• Myreth
• Oleth
• Laureth
• Cateareth (or other "eth")
• PEG
• Polyethylene
• Polethylene Glycol
• Polyoxyethylene
• Oxynol

Read more from the OCA at www.OrganicConsumers.org

Teflon Chemical Harming Turtles

2008-02-26T11:52:00.001-08:00

The chemicals that keep food from sticking to frying pans are damaging the livers and immune systems of loggerhead turtles. This could also signal a danger for humans.

A team monitoring the blood plasma of loggerhead turtles along the U.S. East Coast consistently found significant levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are used as nonstick coatings in a wide variety of goods including cookware, furniture fabrics, carpets, food packaging, fire-fighting foams and cosmetics. They are known to be toxic to the liver, reproductive organs and immune systems.

Blood chemistry analyses of the PFC-contaminated loggerheads suggested damage to liver cells and the immune function suppression. This indicates that current environmental PFC exposures, at concentrations similar to those seen in human blood samples, are putting marine species at risk -- and may pose a similar danger to humans.

Dangers of Swimming Pool Chlorine

2008-02-26T11:51:00.001-08:00

Researchers have determined how airborne contaminants are created when chlorine reacts with sweat and urine in indoor swimming pools. These “volatile disinfection byproducts” can cause respiratory irritation.

Standard tests for swimming pool water look for inorganic byproducts. This new research is the first to identify the presence of organic byproducts which become airborne and pose health concerns.

There have been many documented cases of people becoming ill after breathing contaminants at improperly maintained indoor swimming pools.

Latest "Healthy" Soda Swindle -- Pepsi Raw

2008-02-26T11:40:00.001-08:00

Pepsi has created a new, supposedly healthier version of their brand of flavored sugar water, called Pepsi Raw.

Regular Pepsi contains ingredients such as fructose corn syrup, sugar, artificial colors, phosphoric acid, caffeine and citric acid. Pepsi Raw, in comparison, uses ingredients like apple extract, caramel coloring, coffee leaf, tantaric acid from grapes, gum arabic from acacia trees, cane sugar and sparkling water. It has very slightly fewer calories -- about 10 calories less in a 300ml bottle.

For the moment, Pepsi Raw is only being served in select bars and clubs in parts of England, but a wider rollout is expected later this year.

Lollipop Intended to Prevent Tooth Decay is No Sweet Deal

2008-02-11T12:44:00.001-08:00

Thousands of orange-flavored lollipops, marketed as Dr. John's Herbal Candy, are currently rolling out of a factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The lollipops are infused with a natural ingredient found in licorice that kills the primary bacterium causing tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans.

However, a careful look at the company’s web site reveals that the lollipops are sweetened with the artificial sweetener Acesulfame-K (Ace-K). The use of Ace-K is not exactly being trumpeted by the producers of this “natural” cure, and no wonder.

Numerous prominent U.S. scientists opposed introduction of acesulfame-K as a sweetener, protesting that the safety testing was seriously flawed. The Center for Science in the PublicInterest (CSPI) has repeatedly expressed concern that acesulfame-K is a potential carcinogen.

Somehow, I don’t think it’s worth developing cancer just to have cleaner teeth.

Latest Medical Insanity: Insecticide for Your Head

2008-02-11T12:29:00.001-08:00

Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals, the makers of an insecticide-based treatment for head lice, have stopped promoting their product after a sharply worded warning from the FDA. The FDA’s warning follows years of controversy regarding shampoo and lotion treatments that contain the insecticide lindane. Lindane-based live treatments have been banned in California.

The FDA expressed concern advertising by the company which stated that treating head lice effectively requires two applications, several days apart. The FDA found that "extremely alarming given that retreatment with Lindane Shampoo can lead to increased exposure and possibly death."

More than 166,000 prescriptions for lindane treatments -- almost 10 percent of all prescriptions for head lice and scabies -- were written from January to November 2007.

Swimmers' Sunscreen Killing Off Coral

2008-02-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

Sunscreen is killing coral reefs worldwide. Commonly found sunscreen ingredients -- such as paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and camphor derivatives -- can awaken dormant viruses in symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which live inside reef-building coral species.

The chemicals cause the viruses to replicate until their algae hosts explode. This spills the viruses into the surrounding seawater, where they infect coral communities. In addition, zooxanthellae provide coral with food through photosynthesis. Without them, the coral "bleaches" (turns white) and dies.

It is estimated that 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers annually in oceans worldwide. Up to 10 percent of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching.

Chemical Listing Index

2008-01-17T13:08:00.001-08:00

http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/list

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

2008-01-17T13:00:00.001-08:00

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs are persistent contaminants that impact the brain, nervous and hormone systems. PCBs were banned in the 1970s but despite the ban, human exposure continues from fatty foods. EWG is working to clean up food fed to farmed salmon, which contain high concentrations of these chemicals.

EWG Research on Chemicals in Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

7.30.03 First-Ever U.S. Tests of Farmed Salmon Show High Levels of Cancer-Causing PCBs (pcb-108, pcb-122, pcb-159 ...)
7.30.03 PCBs in Farmed Salmon (pcb-108, pcb-122, pcb-159 ...)
6.18.03 Monsanto in Alabama (pcb-8, pcb-18, pcb-28 ...)
4.30.98 Dumping Sewage Sludge On Organic Farms? (pcb-124, pcb-116, pcb-125 ...)
View All »

Related News Clips on Chemicals in Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

9.14.06 Is Something Fishy In Aquaculture? (pcb-108, pcb-122, pcb-159 ...)
4.14.06 Wild Pacific salmon rates high for nutrition, health (pcb-108, pcb-122, pcb-159 ...)
4.4.06 Wild Pacific salmon rates high for nutrition, health (pcb-108, pcb-122, pcb-159 ...)
4.1.06 Enemies of the Ocean (pcb-108, pcb-122, pcb-159 ...)
1.18.06 Eating Salmon Safely (pcb-108)
View All »

Health Effects related to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Brain and nervous system, Endocrine system, Cancer, Reproduction and fertility, Birth or developmental effects, Persistent and bioaccumulative, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)

Routes of Exposure related to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):

Environment: agriculture
Food: fatty foods, fish
Found in people
Miscellaneous: electrical insulators, electrical transformers
Water: sewage sludge

Related Chemicals

pcbs (1016/1242), pcb-1260, pcb 1262, pcb-1254, pcb-1248, pcb-1242, pcb-1232, pcb-1221, pcb-1016, dichlorobiphenyl, view all...

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) / Teflon

2008-01-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

Polyfluorinated chemicals are widely used as water, stain and grease repellants for food wrap, carpet, furniture, and clothing that have been detected in adults, newborns, and wildlife all around the globe. They persist in the body for decades, acting through a broad range of toxic mechanisms to present potential harm to a wide range of organs. EWG's work has resulted in an international phaseout effort and court victories against major manufacturers.

EWG Research on Chemicals in Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

8.9.07 Toxic Plastics Chemical in Infant Formula (Commercial chemicals' safety unknown)
6.7.07 Minnesota Cancer Report: Where's the Scotchgard? (pfbs (perfluorobutane sulfonate), pfda (perfluorodecanoic acid), pfdoa (perfluorododecanoic acid) ...)
5.23.07 Human Toxome Project (EWG Petitions CDC to Test for PFOA, Showdown for DuPont: EPA Starts Review of Teflon Chemical Now in Human Blood)
5.10.06 Across Generations (pfbs (perfluorobutane sulfonate), pfda (perfluorodecanoic acid), pfdoa (perfluorododecanoic acid) ...)
1.30.06 EPA Science Panel Says Teflon Chemical 'Likely' Cause of Cancer (Canaries in the Kitchen: Teflon Toxicosis)
View All »

Related News Clips on Chemicals in Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

10.16.07 No Criminal Charges Over Teflon Chemical (Canaries in the Kitchen: Teflon Toxicosis)
9.12.07 The Sticky Teflon Problem (Chemical Might Pose Health Risk to Younger Women and Girls, Concerns grow about risk from DuPont chemical C8, Group Says C8 Use Should Stop ...)
9.2.07 Reports About Plastic Contaminants Raise Parents' Concerns (Commercial chemicals' safety unknown)
8.13.07 On The Other Hand (Warnings on Teflon products not required, pfbs (perfluorobutane sulfonate), pfda (perfluorodecanoic acid) ...)
8.11.07 Coated Pots And Pans Can Present Health Hazards (Canaries in the Kitchen: Teflon Toxicosis)
View All »

Health Effects related to Perfluorochemicals (PFCs): Brain and nervous system, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Cancer, Reproduction and fertility, Birth or developmental effects, Persistent and bioaccumulative, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)

Routes of Exposure related to Perfluorochemicals (PFCs):

Consumer products: carpets, clothing
Environment: industrial water pollution, rain
Food: food packaging, popcorn
Found in people
Miscellaneous: manufacturing, medical, occupational
Water: sewage sludge, tap water

Related Chemicals

pfosaa, pfhs, pfba (perfluorobutyric acid), pfosa (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), pfbs (perfluorobutane sulfonate), pfda (perfluorodecanoic acid), pfdoa (perfluorododecanoic acid), pfhpa (perfluoroheptanoic acid), pfhxa (perfluorohexanoic acid), pfhxs (perfluorohexansulfonate), view all...

Phthalates

2008-01-17T11:59:00.001-08:00

Phthalates

Invented in the 1930s, phthalates (tha–lates) are found in many everyday products, from cosmetics to flexible plastics used to make food wraps, toys, and building materials. Studies of suggest exposure to phthalates increases the risk of reproductive system birth defects and hormonal alteration in baby boys, and reproductive problems and hormonal changes in men. Though phthalates are considered hazardous waste and are regulated as air and water pollutants, they are unregulated in food, cosmetics, and consumer and medical products.

EWG Research on Chemicals in Phthalates

12.18.07 Protecting Public Health from Phthalates Will Require Consideration of Cumulative Risks (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate ...)
9.26.07 Cosmetics With Banned and Unsafe Ingredients (Chemical Concerns in Cosmetics)
9.25.07 Investigation Finds More Than 400 Cosmetic Products on U.S. Shelves Unsafe When Used as Directed: Based on Industry Ingredient Assessments (Chemical Concerns in Cosmetics)
7.12.07 Down the Drain (Chemicals' toxicity debated, Cosmetics linked to problem in infant sons, Chemicals found to impair baby boys' genitals ...)
5.24.07 Skin Deep (Chemicals' toxicity debated)
View All »

Related News Clips on Chemicals in Phthalates

10.31.07 'Endocrine Disruptor' Won't Be on Label (Chemicals' toxicity debated, Cosmetics linked to problem in infant sons, Chemicals found to impair baby boys' genitals ...)
10.16.07 Group's Suit Alleges Toxin In iPhones (diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate ...)
10.13.07 Consumer Group Finds Lead In Lipstick (Chemicals' toxicity debated, Cosmetics linked to problem in infant sons, Chemicals found to impair baby boys' genitals ...)
10.11.07 Interest Group Claims Test Proves Safety Of Phthalates (diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate ...)
9.18.07 Sex Education (Chemicals' toxicity debated)
View All »

Health Effects related to Phthalates: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Endocrine system, Reproduction and fertility, Birth or developmental effects, Persistent and bioaccumulative, Brain and nervous system, Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)

Routes of Exposure related to Phthalates:

Air: industrial air pollution
Consumer products: adhesives, detergents, flooring, inks, paints and coatings, plastics, rubber
Environment: agriculture, industrial water pollution
Found in people
Miscellaneous: medical tubing, rocket propellent
Personal care products: deodorant, fragrances, hand lotion, insect repellent, shampoo, soap
Water: sewage sludge, tap water, water treatment

Related Chemicals

monoethyl phthalate, monomethyl phthalate, mono-butyl phthalate, mono- (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl), mono- (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, monobenzyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, view all...

Chemical Listings --bisphenol a

2008-01-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

bisphenol a

In the chemical family: Bisphenol A & BADGE

Detected in polycarbonate plastic, dental sealants, and resins that line metal cans. Linked to hormone disruption, birth defects, cancer with effects at very low doses.

EWG Resources:

EWG Research on bisphenol a

12.19.07 BPA Comments for OEHHA
12.5.07 EWG's Guide to Infant Formula
12.5.07 BPA Levels in Canned Infant Formula Poses Higher Risk Than Baby Bottles
8.21.07 EWG Statement on Reassignment of Chief of NIH Environmental Institute
8.9.07 Toxic Plastics Chemical in Infant Formula
View All »

Chemicals to Avoid

Monsanto Chemical Company - History

more chemicals to avoid from hair coloring

Diesel Fumes Damage Your Brain

Poison skin moisturizers

Sunscreen Myth

Natural Consumer Products Found Contaminated with Cancer-Causing 1,4-Dioxane

Teflon Chemical Harming Turtles

Dangers of Swimming Pool Chlorine

Latest "Healthy" Soda Swindle -- Pepsi Raw

Lollipop Intended to Prevent Tooth Decay is No Sweet Deal

Latest Medical Insanity: Insecticide for Your Head

Swimmers' Sunscreen Killing Off Coral

Chemical Listing Index

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

EWG Research on Chemicals in Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Related News Clips on Chemicals in Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Related Chemicals

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) / Teflon

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

EWG Research on Chemicals in Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

Related News Clips on Chemicals in Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

Related Chemicals

Phthalates

Phthalates

EWG Research on Chemicals in Phthalates

Related News Clips on Chemicals in Phthalates

Related Chemicals

Chemical Listings --bisphenol a

bisphenol a

EWG Resources:

EWG Research on bisphenol a

Related News Clips on bisphenol a