Hazardous Substances
This website focuses on how various hazardous substances cause chemical injury and how to prevent chemical injuries. What follows are medical literature summaries of some more common exposures. There are many more hazardous chemicals, with thousands of new chemicals introduced each year, most with totally inadequate information on many serious, long-term effects.
Chemicals are NOT TYPICALLY TESTED for brain, immune, and hormonal effects, and often not tested for cancer, neurodegenerative, or autoimmune effects.
Due to the great cost of human studies, important organ functions are often missed:
Ř Brain, neurologic
Ř Endocrine, reproductive
Ř Immune
Unfortunately, these functions are often damaged by chemicals that have been thoroughly studied. Furthermore, all fat soluble chemicals can enter the brain, and chemical brain damage can readily damage both endocrine and immune function. This is discussed in more detail in Chemical Brain Injury, by Dr. K. Kilburn, Van Nostrand Reinhold, and the layperson’s version, Endangered Brain, Dr. K. Kilburn, Princeton Scientific Publishing. Both books are out of print but can be located online.
Inadequate testing greatly limits knowledge for prevention, choosing safer substances and technologies, and linking damage to exposure for affected persons. Too often limited research dollars are used to further “study” already well known hazards, while neglecting research on the vast majority of toxic chemicals. Only citizen action can help change these practices and promote a healthier world.
Brain injury is summarized on the website in Toxic Encephalopathy. Irritant effects of chemicals are discussed in Reactive Airway Disease and Neural Sensitization.
You can help by:
Ř Insisting that hazardous substances and their early warning symptoms/effects be clearly listed on all container labels in size and location that is easy to read.
Ř Asking that least hazardous chemicals and procedures be used.
Ř Demanding that chemical sales and promotion personnel have and use an adequate database of health effects, receive adequate training on health effects of products and inform all buyers.
Ř Working to require chemical and chemical product manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe: there is no price on human life and health.
Exposure limits are inadequate:
Medical literature describes severe scientific inadequacy in legal exposure limits, known as Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), which are used for workplace regulation and as data in air quality reports. This same medical literature has found serious health effects occur below these inadequate legal exposure limits. Articles on these Threshold Limit Values are available on this web site for your convenience through the following link:
Roach and Rapport “But they are not thresholds: A critical Analysis of the Threshold Limit Values,” American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 17: 727-753, 1990 (.pdf).
Ziem and Castleman articles:
Guest editorial: “Toxic Pollutants, Science, and Corporate Influence,” Archives of Environmental Health, 44: p.68, 1989. (.pdf)
Letter to the Editor, Applied Industrial Hygiene, 3: p.F33, Sept. 1988.
“Corporate Influence on the Threshold Limit Values,”American Journal of Industrial Medicine 13: 531-559, 1988. (.pdf)
“Threshold Limit Values: Historical Perspectives and Current Practice,” Journal of Occupational Medicine 31: 910-918, 1989. (.pdf)
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Acetates: Irritants which also effect the central nervous system
Acrylic Resins: Sensitizers and irritants
Arsenic: Found in pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and various alloys
Carbonless Copy Paper: Known to cause irritation in the respiratory tract and skin
Carpets: Emit volatile organic compounds (VOC's) which are neurotoxins and respiratory irritants
Chemical Mixtures: Toxic interactions can result from exposures to multiple solvents or petroleum-chemicals
Chlorinated Inorganic Compounds: Include household bleach and swimming pool chemcials
Chlorpyrifos/Dursban: Are potent organophosphate neurotoxins used in pesticides, which can cause long term, persistant neurologic and neurotoxic damage to humans
Combustion Products: Include auto and truck exhaust, oil and gas furnaces, propane grills, anything that burns can cause lung, heart, and genetic damage
Consumer Products: Many can induce or exacerbate significant respiratory effects
Copper: Inhaling copper dust or fumes can result in changes in the lungs that resemble silicosis
Cyclohexane: Solvent, varnish and paint remover, and used in the manufacture of nylon
Diazinon: Potent organophosphate pesticide neurotoxin that disrupts the nervous system by interfering with nerve transmitters
Dichlorobenzene (paradichlorobenzene): Used in most modern mothballs as a replacement for napthalene
Diesel: Can increase repiratory inflammation, cause lung disease, and brain impairment
Dimethyl Ether: toxic to the brain
Epoxies: Irritants and sensitizers
Formaldehyde: Very common in building and consumer product, and can cause asthmatic and other symptoms
Glycol Ethers: Solvents used in many products, including paints, degreasers, cosmetics, and perfumes
Hexane (n-hexane): Solvent used in gasoline, shoes, furniture finishing products, and many other products
Hydrogen Sulfide: Highly toxic and flammable gas produced as a by-product of oil refineries and other industries
Isocyanates: Respiratory sensitizer, which can cause asthma
Isofenphos: Highly toxic organophosphate pesticide, which can cause long-term nervous system damage
Malathion: Highly toxic organophosphate pesticide, which can cause long-term nervous system damage
Methanol: Methyl alcohol, which, in the body, breaks down into more toxic formic acid and formaldehyde
Methylene Chloride: Solvent used in many ways, including as a degreaser, paint remover, and in the coffee decaffeination process
Mineral Spirits: Used commonly as a mild solvent and paint thinner, can induce persisting fatigue
Molds and Chronic Illness: Molds and Chronic Illness: Certain molds can cause respiratory and neurotoxic effects
Naphtha (see Petroleum Distillates): Solvents used in many industrial processes and consumer products
Organophosphates: Developed by Germany in WWII as nerve gas agents, now used in insecticides
Organotin Compounds: Used in making PVC, wood preservation products, and as biostats
Particle Exposure: Such as from diesel can cause lung irritation, and, if small enough, can enter the blood stream
Perfume Scented Products and Chemical Injury: Perfume, Scented Products and Chemical Injury: 95% of the ingredients in fragrances are synthetic petrochemicals, among which are irritants and neurotoxins as shown by the EPA
Perchlorethylene [Tetrachloroethylene]: Central nervous system depressant used in dry cleaning and as a degreaser
Peracetic Acid: An antimicrobial and bleaching agent
Permanent Press and Other Formaldehyde Treated Fabrics: Can cause dermatitis and eczema; eye, nose, and throat irritation; and headaches
Pest Control: Information on safe pest control for your workplace, home, and schools.
Pesticides and Immune Effects: Include immune impairment, altered estrogen metabolism, and neuromuscular changes
Phenol: Uses include manufacture of weedkillers, synthetic resins, drugs, and antiseptics, and is highly toxic to the brain
Piperonyl Butoxide: Added to pesticides to make them more toxic
Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether: Used as a solvent in making inks, dyes, stains, cellulose, acrylics, and other products, with liver damage resulting from repeated exposure
Pyrethrin Pesticides: Potent sensitizers of the skin and respiratory tract, and in the brain can cause convulsions
Pyrethroids: Pesticides which can over-excite the nervous system, altering the function of the nerves and brain
Sick Buildings: Indoor air pollution that leads to illness
Toluene/Xylene: Solvents, which the body has great difficulty metabolizing and eliminating
Toxic Pollutants, Science, and Corporate Influence: Concerns ambient air standards for toxic pollutants
Trichloroethane (1,1,1-Trichloroethane): Compound responsible for ozone depletion
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