Harmful Chemicals:
What Toxins am I exposed to?

If you decide to get rid of body toxins, it would be helpful to know what toxins you are exposed daily and where these toxins are coming from. The following list presents the most known chemical and additives that can be found in your everyday surroundings.

Acesulfame K
this is a common sugar substitute
Found in: pudding, chewing gum, non-dairy creamers, instant coffee mixes, tea mixes and gelatin desserts. In studies done with animals, Acesulfame K apparently produced lung tumors, breast tumors, and several forms of leukemia and chronic respiratory disease.

Acetone
this is also known as Dimethylketone, 2-Propanone, Beta-Ketopropane.
Found in: nail polish remover
Inhaling this substance can cause nose, throat, lung and eye irratation, headaches, confusion, increased pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, and even a coma. The long term effects include kidney, liver and nerve damage, increased birth defects, metabolic changes and coma.

Acetaldehyde
See Acetone

Alcohol
Found in mouthwash, astringent, toothpaste, cleansers. This had been known to increase possibilities of developing oral cancer.

Alkyl-phenol Ethoxylades
Found in shampoo and bubble bath. It may reduce sperm count.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Found in anti-aging facial creams and lotions.
It destroys skin cells and leaves skin more susceptible to damage from the environment, pollution. This can cause the skin to age faster.

Aluminum
Found in antiperspirant deodorants.
It causes central nervous system damage and has recently been linked to Alzheimers.

Ammonium Glycolate
Found in most body products like lotions etc.
This substance is called a photosensitizer and has the potential to increase risk of sunburn and skin cancer by intensifying UV exposures in deep skin layers. It may cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin. It can also alter the skins’ structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Ammonium Persulfate
Found in hair color and bleaching kits.
It may cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin, lung problems and can initiate asthma attacks.

Aspartame
Found in sugar substitutes and sweeteners in foods and some body products, such as shaving gel and diet sodas.
People who were affected by this chemical, often report dizziness, headaches and even seizures. Long term effects are still unknown.

Bentonite (Clay)
Found in soaps, facial masks and cosmetics.
It does not allow CO2 out or O2 in; it suffocates the skin and traps toxins.

Benzene
Found in such things as detergents, drugs, pesticides and adhesives.
Inhalation can cause headaches, rapid heart rate, tremors, confusion, unconsciousness, and even death. Hodgkin’s and Lymphomas may result from inhalation.

Benzoic Acid
Found in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics as well as canned goods. It is used as food preservative.
Inhalation may affect your nervous system. Benzoic Acid is relatively toxic and is also a severe eye and skin irritant.

Benzoic / Benzyl / Benzene
Found in shower gels, shampoos, bubble bath.
It contains popular carcinogens, and an endocrine disruptor, which may cause birth defects.

BHA – BHT
Found in canned foods and body products.
This substance is actually banned in other countries because these two preservatives are considered carcinogenic, but they still remain in U.S. manufactured foods that contain oil as they retard rancidity.

Bronopol
Found in many different body products.
It may break down into formaldehyde and form carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Butylparaben
This is also found in body products.
This substance poses a potential breast cancer risk. It contains an endocrine disruptor which can cause infertility or development problem, as well as an increased risk for certain types of cancers.

Found in cosmetics.
Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis.

Coal Tar Dyes 
Found in bubble bath, hair dye, dandruff shampoo, toothpaste and foods.
It may cause severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, nervousness, increased risk of Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Found in body products and may be labeled natural or organic.
It is synthesized from coconuts and can cause, itching, burning and blistering of skin.

Coumarin
Found in deodorants, shampoos, skin fresheners and everyday perfumes.
It is used to be the most active ingredient in rat poison, and it is a carcinogenic ingredient.

D&C Yellow 11
Found in lip gloss, polish remover, nail polish, bath oil/salts/soak, body spray, mositurizer, lipstick, styling gel/lotion, bar soap, after sun products, cologne, nail treatment and eye products.

DEA: Diethanolamine
Found as a wetting or thickening agent in shampoos, soaps, hairsprays and sunscreens.
It blocks absorption of the nutrient choline, which is essential to brain development in a fetus.

Ethylacrylate
Found in some mascaras.
It is suspected as a cause of cancer in people.

Hydroabietyl Alcohol
Found in styling gel/lotions.
It is considered unsafe for use in cosmetics.

TEA: Tea, Triethanolamine
It is very common and can result in tremors, nausea, heart palpitations and nervousness.

NDEA
It is ofetn used in cosmetics to adjust the pH and with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt.
This forms when DEA reacts with nitrosating agents or the actual addition of nitrite as a preservative. Since this ingredient is impossible to trace, it is imperative to avoid all products containing DEA because it is a known carcinogen.

DEA
Found in shampoos, skin cream, bubble bath, shaving gel, conditioner, and lotions.
This can cause allergic reactions including eye problems, dry hair and skin. It could be toxic if it is absorbed into the body over a long period of time. Repeated applications of DEA-based detergents may increase cancer risk.

Diacetyl
Found in foods like microwave popcorn.
This additive tastes like butter and causes a serious lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
It is used to keep nail polish from chipping and has been connected to long-term fertility issues.

Disodium EDTA
Found in cosmetics.
Harmful if it is swallowed or inhaled. It causes irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract.

Elastin
Found in facial creams and body lotions.
Suffocates skin by not allowing moisture in or out.

Fluoride
Found in toothpastes.
It may contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. It accumulates in body over time and contributes to bone disease. It is a carcinogenic.

Formaldehyde
Found in common nail care products, baby shampoo, bubble bath, deodorants, perfume, cologne, hair dye, mouthwash, toothpaste, hair spray.
This substance is a carcinogen and neurotoxin that can be fatal if swallowed, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. It can cause spasms, edema, chemical pneumonitis and is particularly hard on tissue of the mucous membrane. It is known to cause cancers.

Fragrances (Synthetic)
Some perfumes contain hundreds of toxic chemicals in them. Some, such as methylene chloride, are carcinogenic.

Glycolic Acid
Found in creams, lotions, and cosmetics.
It is a penetration enhancer that alters your basic skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin and reach the bloodstream. It can cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin. It is a toxicant, neurotoxin, kidney toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant.

GMO/Genetically Modified Organism
These are plants, animals or foods that have been genetically modified, genetically created or changed in some way. GMO food is not labeled this way in the U.S. Almost all other countries have banned the use of GMO in food and body products due to insufficient testing.

High Fructose Corn Syrup/HFCS
High consumption of fructose has be viewed as a leading factor in heart disease. It raises blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It makes blood cells more prone to clotting, and it may also speed up the aging process.

Hydrogenated/Partially Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils contain very high levels of trans fats that are poisonous like arsenic. Partially hydrogenated oils will lead to diseases like multiple sclerosis and many of the allergies that lead to arthritis.

Hydroquinone
Found in skin lightening products and hair dyes.
Hydroquinone is severely toxic. This chemical alters the skins natural structure inhibiting the production of Melanin. Without natural protection, the skin is more susceptible to skin cancer caused by sun exposure.

Hydroxymethylcellulose
It is used in cosmetics; its inhalation could cause chemical pneumonitis.

Isobutylparaben
Found in body products.
It can cause ttching, burning and blistering of skin.

 

Kajoic Acid
Found in skin lightening products
It inhibits Melanin production. See Hydroquinone

Kaolin (Clay)
Found in face powders and cosmetics.
It suffocates and weakens skin.

Lanolin
Found in body products.
While lanolin itself is good for the skin, it may contain carcinogenic pesticides such as DDT, lindane, dieldrin and other neurotoxins.

Lye
Found in bars of soap.
It can dry and damage skin.

Magnesium Stearate 
This chemical is an execeptant that is used to bind medicinal pills and make them smooth.
It is also used in pharmaceuticals, foods, talcum powder, ammunition, and as a drying agent in paints. This substance may contain phosphatidyl choline which collapses cell membranes and selectively kills T-Cells which breaks down the immune system.

Methylisothiazoline, or MIT
Found in shampoo.
If used frequently, it may causes neurological damage.

Mineral Oil
Found in blush, baby oil, lotions, foundation and creams.
This additive clogs pores, locks in toxins, suffocates and dries skin and inhibits your skins natural oil production and increases dehydration. It may causes testicular tumors in the fetus, deposits accumulate in the lymph nodes and prevent absorption of vitamin A from the intestines.

Monosodium Glutamate/MSG
Found in many foods.
MSG is an excitotoxin, which causes nerve damage and allergic reactions.

Neotame
Found in soft drinks, prescription drugs, and basically all processed foods.
Neotame is a reformulated from of aspartame. Neotame contains aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and a methyl esther. It can cause brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders. People who are sensitive to processed free glutamic acid (MSG) often have the same problems with aspartame. Poeple who are sensitive to aspartame experience similar reactions to MSG.

Nitrate – Nitrite
While nitrate on its own is harmless; it can easily be changed to nitrite. When nitrite combines with secondary amines, it forms nitrosamines: which are extremely powerful cancer-causing chemicals. The chemical reaction occurs most readily at the high temperatures of frying. Nitrite has long been suspected as being a cause of stomach cancer.

Nitrosamines
This is a very powerful, cancer-causing chemicals formed at high temperatures when the nitrite combines with secondary amines.

Olestra
Olestra replaces fats in ‘fat-free’ foods.
This additive attaches itself to valuable nutrients and flushes them out of the body.

Paraffin
Found in cosmetics and food.
It is a potential carcinogen.

PEG Stearates
Found in cosmetics, creams and foods.
It might be contaminated with chemicals that are linked to cancer or other significant health problems.

PEG
Found in foods and body products.
PEG may contain ¼-dioxane which is a possible carcinogen, estrogen mimic and endocrine disruptor. It can only be removed from a product through vacuum stripping during processing.

Petroleum 
Found in lotions, skin creams, and body jelly.
It clogs pores and traps toxins in the body.

Phenoxyethanol
this substance has been known to show a possible connection to reproductive or developmental harm to fetus, it also has a potential for reduced fertility, and is classified as toxic and an irritant, potential risks to wildlife and environment through excretion of body product toxins and disposal of cosmetics.

Phthalates
Found in perfume, hair spray, deodorant, nail polish, hair gel, mousse, body and hand lotion (It will not be listed on the label). Also found in vinyl flooring, plastic wallpaper, and children’s toys.
It has been proven to cause damage to liver, lungs, kidneys and reproductive system, especially forming testes. It accumulates in the body.

Polyethylene Glycol /PEG
Found in cosmetics, body products, foods, lotions.
It is relatively toxic, and it is an eye irritant and possible carcinogen. Many glycols cause severe acidosis, central nervous system damage and congestion.

Polypropylene
Found in lipstick, mascara, baby soap, eye shadow.
It is considered carcinogenic.

Potassium Bromate
This additive increases the volume and crumb of bread.
It is considered carcinogenic.

Propylene Glycol
Found in shaving gel, lotions, shampoo, conditioners, foods, deodorant.
It is derived from petroleum products. Information about propylene glycol warns against contact with eyes, skin and clothing. It also says inhalation can cause irritation of nasal passages, ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Propylene Glycol may cause kidney damage, liver abnormalities. It inhibits skin cell growth, damages cell membranes, causing rashes, surface damage and dry skin. It can be absorbed into bloodstream and travel to all organs. Many glycols produce severe acidosis, central nervous system damage and congestion.

Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60 etc.
Found in body products.
This is very toxic, and causes skin rashes and allergic reactions. There is some proof that it can be related to multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers.

Sodium Chloride
Found in shampoo and is used as a thickener.
This is simply table salt in its basic form. It causes eye irritation, some hair loss, and dry and itchy skin.

Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Found in facial moisturizer, facial cleanser, facial treatments, skin fading and lightening products, anti-aging products, eye makeup remover, concealer, makeup remover, around eye cream, acne treatment, shampoo, conditioner, styling lotion and gel, styling mousse and foam, hair spray, and even hair relaxer.
It can be contaminated with or breaking down into chemicals linked to cancer or other significant health problems.

Sodium Nitrite
This is what causes meat to look red rather than gray. It gives meat an overly long shelf life of (months). It is clinically proven to cause leukemia, brain tumors and other forms of cancer.

Soy
This popular substitute for dairy contains several naturally occurring compounds that are toxic to humans and animals. Soy foods block calcium and can cause vitamin D deficiencies. Almost all soy foods contain MSG (See MSG).
Soy products inhibit thyroid function, which may lead to fatigue and mental issues. Infants are fed soy formula are vulnerable to developing autoimmune thyroid disease when they are exposed to high amounts of isoflavones over time. These isoflavones have been found to have serious side effects for people, including infertility, thyroid or liver disease.

SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate)
Found in toothpaste, soap, shampoo, body wash, bubble bath, facial cleansers.
This is a detergent derived from coconut oil and may be labeled natural or even organic.
SLS builds up in heart, lungs, brain and liver from skin contact. It corrodes hair follicles and may cause hair to fall out. It also damages immune system.

SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
Found in shampoo, toothpaste, bubble bath, body wash, soap.
Ether mixtures may contain carcinogenic nitrosamines. This may cause hair loss when it is applied to scalp.

Stearalkonium Chloride
Found in hair conditioners
It is toxic and causes allergic reactions.

Sulfites
Sulfates can cause reactions if you are an asthmatic, and lead to death. They are now banned on all foods except raw potatoes, wine and dried fruit.

Talc
Found in blush, condoms, baby powder, feminine powders, foot and body powders.
It is a carcinogenic when inhaled.

Toluene
Found in nail polish and cleaning products.
It is poisonous to humans; it irritates respiratory tract. It causes hallucinations, bone marrow changes, may cause liver and kidney damage and birth defects. It is an endocrine disruptor and potential carcinogen that has been linked to brain cancer.

Triclosan
Found in antibacterial soaps and toothpaste products.
It can react with chlorine in the tap water to create Chloroform. This is a toxic chemical. When you wash your hands with antibacterial soap that contains Triclosan, you are inhaling the fumes emitted from this chemical reaction.

Zinc Stearate
Found in blush and powder foundation.
It is considered carcinogenic.