TOXICITY IN HUMANS

including chronic and acute effects (lab animal effects in brackets)

Acetone -adhesives ,paint

neurologic damage, lung damage; enhances carbon tetrachloride liver damage  

Carbon disulfide -solvents, dry-cleaning, painting, spray painting, glue work, varnishes

peripheral nerve damage, emotional instability, insomnia, lessening of libido

Chloroform, carbon tetrachloride solvents, incinerators, groundwater

liver- lung- & enzyme damage, cancers, kidney damage, cardiac abnormalities, heart attack

Dioxins contaminant in pesticides, herbicides, technical products;

genetic damage, vitamin A dysregulation, liver toxicity, altered fat metabolism, chlorachne (skin cysts, scarring) thymus atrophy, impaired resistance to infection, breast cancer, nerve transmission damage

Ethanol  glue, paint,cleaners ,alcoholic beverages

fetal damage, developmental delay, neurologic damage, cirrhosis of liver, zinc and selenium deficiencies; accelerates liver damage of chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and nitrosamines; interferes with body processing of styrene, xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethylene, benzene

Formaldehyde  solvents, printing, fabrics, mattresses, tobacco smoke, woodsmoke, foam insulation, particle board, clung damage, impaired memory & dexterity, immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions; asthma, rhinitis; irritation of eyes and respiration  

Glycol ethers antifreeze, paint, glue, adhesives, sealants, caulking compounds, printed circuit boards, dyeing, inks

reproductive poisons, red blood cell damage, liver damage (in animals: fetal growth retardation, skeletal defects, testicular lesions)

Hexachlorobenzene cleaners, fungicide

immune suppression, reduced T&B cell responses

Hexachlorophene disinfectant, cleaning agent, soaps;

nausea, vomiting, convulsions, central and peripheral nerve damage, kidney damage.

Methanol  glue, antifreeze, paint, cement, ink, windshield-wiper solvent; industrial uses

neurologic damage, blindness, lung and gastro-intestinal problems; dizziness, headache

Methyl ethyl ketone solvents, photochemical smog

lung irritation and damage

Methyl n butyl ketone solvents, glue, varnish

peripheral nerve damage, loss of motor control and reflexes, tremor, weight loss, muscle weakness

Methylene chloride pesticide sprays, gaseous lubricants, aerosols, degreasers, waxes, paints, paint-removers, varnishes

heart muscle damage, heartbeat changes; creates carbon monoxide (in animals: cancers)

N-hexane building materials, vegetable oil extraction, gasoline, solvents, glue, roofing glue, varnish, vinyl production, printing inks,

paints, dry-cleaning, spray painting

nerve cell damage, peripheral limb nerve damage; headache, cramps Pentachlorophenol wood preservative, packaging preservative, insecticide, metabolite of lindane & hexachlorobenzene.

possible genetic damage, suspected cancers; commonly contaminated with dioxins

Phenols disinfectants, insecticides, fungicides (especially citrus fruit), food additives, tobacco, marihuana, natural food occurrences, incinerators

nausea, vomiting, paralysis, coma (

Solvents (mixed) (usually some combination of: benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, acetone, methanol, phenol, alkylphenol, dichloromethane) paints, glues, degreasers, thinners, extractors, dyes, industrial manufacturing, laboratories

brain, skeletal, and other birth defects; brain cell degeneration; panic attacks, impaired memory, depression; visuospatial and perceptual impairment

Toluene (methyl benzene) paint, solvents, carpets, plastic & rubber cements, white-out fluid, glue,roofing glue, photocopiers, print shops, dry-cleaning, spray painting varnishes, building materials, incinerators, smog, gasoline, groundwater (drinking, skin absorption), printed paper

damages: menstruation, respiratory system, brain, reproductive system, verbal memory, short-term memory, reaction speed; increases emotional reactivity and awake periods; induces asthma, blood vessel dilation, hearing loss

Trichloroethylene dry-cleaning, painting, spray painting, glue work, dewaxing and degreasing agents, insecticides, drain cleaners, printing inks, solvents, varnishes; incinerators

damage to cranial and trigeminal (nasal) nerves, liver; brain fatty acid changes; narcotic symptoms: dizziness, nausea, numbness, alcohol intolerance; disruptions in memory and understanding; cardiac abnormalities, heart attack

Xylene

paints, thinners, solvents, gasoline, polystyrene cups, adhesives, roofing glue, building materials, varnish, cleaners, paper, photochemical smog, groundwater

lung enzyme damage, upper respiratory irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea; impaired balance and reaction times

Please Note: These chemicals are specific to particular products , but typically the more they smell is a quick indication that solvents and some of these products may be added.

There is no legal mandate to list ingredients on packaging so we always recommend sighting an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) prior to use.

Also it is good to note all New Zealand manufacturers use ingredients listed by ERMA (environmental Risk Management Authority) Imported goods may not conform to NZ standards so always recommend buying Locally produced products.

List of Toxins