Hazardous Chemical Glossary

Also known as Bronopol

A preservative. May break down into formaldehyde. Can form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Found in cosmetics, personal-care products (shampoos, lotions), and baby products.

Also known as ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide, benzalkonium chloride, and quaternary ammonium compounds.

An irritant that affects the skin, eyes, and respiratory passages. Extremely toxic when inhaled in concentrated vapors. Repeated exposure may lead to bronchitis and pneumonia. Can cause chemical burns, cataracts, and corneal damage. Has been shown to produce skin cancer. Toxic effects to plants, animals, and fish. Listed as a toxic chemical on the EPA's Community Right-to-Know list. Found in a wide range of household cleaning products, including glass cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and disinfectants.

Banana oil, pear oil.

Skin irritant and neurotoxin causing central nervous-system depression. Found in furniture polishes, nail finishes, nail-polish removers, and perfumes.

See ammonia.

Synthetic disinfectant and bacteriacide. Wide use is causing new strains of resistant bacteria. Negatively affects living organisms. Found in disinfecting hand soaps, dishwashing detergent, disinfectants, and cleaners.

See 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol.

Also known as 2-butoxy-1-ethanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, butoxyethanol, and butyl oxitol.

Highly toxic synthetic solvent and grease cutter that can irritate mucous membranes and cause liver damage. Readily absorbed through the skin; neurotoxic. Found in some all-purpose cleaners and degreasers, window cleaners, and a wide range of other household cleaning products.

Also known as sodium hypochlorite, hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, sodium dichloroixocyanurate, hydrogen chloride, and hydrochloric acid.

Powerful irritant. Can be fatal upon inhalation. Causes the most household poisonings in the U.S., and ranks first in industrial injuries and deaths.There is growing evidence that chlorinated drinking water causes bladder cancer and rectal cancer. Many chlorinated water supplies probably contain some amount of THM (trihalomethanes), which are carcinogenic compounds. THMs can be removed from tap water with an adequate home filtration system with activated carbon. Chlorine and compounds are environmentally damaging, break down slowly in the ecosystem, are stored in the fatty tissue of wildlife, and are a prime cause of atmospheric ozone loss. Chlorine is listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant. Found in a wide range of household cleaners, including laundry bleaches, dishwasher detergents, and tub and tile cleaners.

Also known as cocamide diethanolamine.

While not carcinogenic, has the potential to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Found in dishwashing liquids, shampoos, and cosmetics.

FD&C or D&C.

Artificial colors are made from petroleum and coal tar, and are believed to be cancer-causing agents. They may penetrate the skin, can cause allergies, and are irritants to the skin and eyes. They are found on labels as "FD&C" or "D&C" and followed by a color and a number. Yellow, amber, green, or blue products are dyed with synthetic colors, and should be avoided.

Also known as diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and monoethanolamine.

Moderate skin and severe eye irritant. Can react with nitrites to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Found in a wide range of household cleaning and personal-care products.

Also known as diethylene dioxide, diethylene ether, and diethylene oxide.

A carcinogen. Listed as a hazardous air pollutant in the 1990 Clean Air Act. Found in window cleaners.

Also known as ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic and diammonium EDTA.

Skin irritant. Irritating to the mucous membranes, leading to allergies, asthma, and skin rashes. Does not readily biodegrade. Binds with heavy metals trapped in our lakes and streams, thereby activating the metals and causing them to reenter the food chain. Found in laundry detergents.

See 1,4-dioxane.

May be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is carcinogenic.

TRIS

Mutagenic and carcinogenic to animals. Absorbed through the skin from clothing.

See benzalkonium chloride.

Mostly-synthetic bacteriacides. (See benzalkonium chloride.) Found in disinfecting hand soaps, dishwashing detergents, disinfectants, and cleaners.

See butyl cellosolve.

Large group of chemicals. Can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Can be hazardous to the reproductive system. Can range from relatively nontoxic to extremely toxic. Can damage the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. Can be absorbed quickly through the skin. Found in some household cleaning products, paints, cosmetics, and perfumes.

See chlorine.

Can dissolve and destroy tender tissues upon direct contact. Eyes, nose, and throat easily irritated by vapors. Can burn, result in permanent scarring and even blindness. Found in aluminum cleaners and rust removers.

See chlorine.

See preservatives.

Most commonly used cosmetic preservative, after parabens. Primary cause of contact dermatitis. Found in cosmetics, baby shampoos, personal care products, and fragrances.

Also known as methyl alchohol.

Severe eye and skin irritant. Can cause blindness. Neurotoxic. Found in glass cleaners, some paint removers and strippers, and art products.

Also known as carbon disulfide, n-hexane, metyl n-butyl ketone, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, toluene.

Neurotoxins and central-nervous-system depressants. Recognized as carcinogens and reproductive hazards in the workplace. Found in all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, metal polishes, varnish and lacquer removers, dry-cleaning solutions, paints and coatings, and adhesives.

See para-dichlorobenzene.

Also known as octyl dimethyl PABA.

Can cause formation of nitrosamines. May be carcinogenic. Found in sunscreens and cosmetics.

Also known as p-dichlorobenzene, PDCB, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene.

Extremely toxic. Carcinogenic. Highly volatile. Causes liver and kidney damage. Does not biodegrade. Found in moth repellents, toilet deodorizers, room deodorants, and insecticides.

Also known as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben.

Preservatives that have a greater-than-normal potential for causing irritation and allergic reactions. Reported to be toxic. Widely used in personal-care products, including shampoos and cosmetics.

See organic solvents.

Animal carcinogen, suspected human carcinogen. Air pollutant. Groundwater contaminant. Drinking water contaminated with perc has leukemia and birth-defect implications. Long-term overexposure may effect the nervous system. Found in spot removers, degreasers, and dry-cleaning fluids.

Also known as naphthas; see toluene, xylene, benzene, napthalene, and Stoddard solvent.

Group of chemicals obtained from the petroleum-refining process. Eye, skin, and respiratory irritants. Neurotoxic effects can lead to organic brain damage. Many petroleum products are carcinogenic. Found in heavy-duty cleaners, laundry stain removers, furniture polishes, car waxes, lice shampoos, home and garden pesticides, and flea-control products.

Also known as alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol and nonyl phenoxy ethoxylate.

Very toxic. Suspected carcinogen. Swelling, pimples, and hives are common. Internal consumption can cause circulatory collapse, convulsions, cold sweats, coma, and death. Found in laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners, air fresheners, disinfectants, and furniture polishes.

Also see parabens, formaldehyde, and imidazolidinyl urea.

Leading cause of contact dermatitis. Less irritating and allergenic preservatives include grapefruit-seed extract, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E), Vitamin A (retinyl), and Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Also known as lye, caustic soda, and soda lye.

Corrosive. Eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Can burn eyes, skin and internal organs. Can cause lung damage, blindness and be fatal if swallowed. Found in a wide range of household cleaners including oven cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and drain openers.

Also sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laurel sulfate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate; also see 1,4-dioxane.

Skin irritant. Reported as toxic in many studies. Has tendency to react with other ingredients to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. The FDA has stated that levels of dioxin formation in products containing sodium laureth sulfate are unacceptable. Studies have shown eye and systemic tissue (heart, liver, brain) penetration. Main ingredient in many shampoos, baby shampoos, and toothpastes.

See petroleum distillates.

Petroleum distillate. Eye and mucous-membrane irritant. Neurotoxic. Found in all-purpose cleaners, abrasives, and floor and auto waxes.

See sodium bisulfate.

Very corrosive, producing severe burns on contact. Found in toilet-bowl cleaners and metal polishes.

Also known as triethanolamine;see DEA.

Moderate skin and severe eye irritant. Can react with nitrites to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Found in a wide range of household cleaning and personal-care products.

Also known as xylene; see petroleum distillates, organic solvents.

Highly toxic petrochemical solvent. Eye and skin irritant. Carcinogenic. Neurotoxic and reproductive effects. Found in spot removers, car cleaners, and paints.

TCA

Severe eye irritant. Can be absorbed through skin. Hazardous air pollutant. Inhalation and ingestion can lead to death. Found in cosmetics and degreasers.

TCE

See organic solvents.

Suspected carcinogen. Very irritating to eyes and nose. Found in spot removers and metal polishes.

TEA; see DEA.

Moderate skin and severe eye irritant. Can react with nitrites to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Found in a wide range of household cleaning and personal-care products.