Household Products and Their Hazardous Ingredients

Product type	Possible ingredients	Potential hazards
Air Freshener and Deodorizer	Formaldehyde	Toxic; carcinogen; irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin; may cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss, and shortness of breath.
Bleach	Sodium hypochlorite	Corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes, respiratory tract; may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested; contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes.
Disinfectant	Sodium hypochlorite	Corrosive; irritates or burns skin, eyes; may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested.
	Phenols[sts1]	Flammable; very toxic; respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac damage.
	Ammonia	Vapor irritating to eyes, respiratory tract, and skin; possible chronic irritation.
Drain Cleaner	Sodium or potassium hydroxide (lye)	Caustic; irritant; inhibits reflexes; burns to skin, eyes; poisonous if swallowed due to severe tissue damage.
	Hydrochloric acid	Corrosive; irritant; damage to kidney, liver, and digestive system.
	Trichloroethane	Irritant to nose and eyes; central nervous system depression; liver and kidney damage if ingested.
Flea Powder	Carbaryl	Very toxic; interferes with human nervous system; may cause skin, respiratory system, cardiovascular system damage.
	Dichlorophene	Skin irritation; may damage liver, kidney, spleen, and central nervous system.
	Chlordane and other chlorinated hydrocarbons	Very slow biodegradation; accumulates in food chain; may damage eyes, lungs, liver, kidneys, and skin.
Floor Cleaner Wax	Diethylene glycol	Toxic; causes central nervous system depression and kidney, liver lesions.
	Petroleum solvents	Highly flammable; associated with skin and lung cancer; irritant to skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs.
	Ammonia	Vapor irritation to eyes, respiratory tract, and skin; possible chronic irritation.
Furniture Polish	Petroleum distillates or mineral spirits	Highly flammable; moderately toxic; associated with skin and lung cancer; irritant to skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs; entry into lungs may cause pulmonary edema.
Oven Cleaner	Sodium or potassium hydroxide (lye)	Caustic; irritant; inhibits reflexes; burns to skin, eyes; poisonous if swallowed due to severe tissue damage.
Paint Thinner	Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons	Slow decomposition; liver and kidney damage.
	Esters	Toxicity varies with specific chemical; causes eye, nose, and throat irritation and anesthesia.
	Alcohols	Volatile and flammable; eye, nose, and throat irritation.
	Chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons	Flammable; toxic; accumulate in food chain.
	Ketones	Flammable; toxicity varies with specific chemical; may cause respiratory ailments.
Paint	Aromatic hydrocarbon thinners	Flammable; skin irritant; benzene is a carcinogen; possible liver and kidney damage.
	Mineral spirits	Highly flammable; skin, eye, nose, throat, lung irritant; very high air concentrations may cause unconsciousness, death.
Spot Remover	Perchlorethylene or trichloroethane	Slow decomposition; liver and kidney damage; perchlorethylene is suspected carcinogen.
	Ammonium hydroxide	Corrosive; vapor extremely irritable to skin, eyes, and respiratory passages; ingestion causes tissue burns.
	Sodium hypochlorite	Corrosive; irritates skin, eyes, respiratory tract; may cause pulmonary edema and skin burns.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner	Sodium acid sulfate or oxalate or hypochloric acid	Corrosive; burns from skin contact or inhalation; ingestion may be fatal.
	Chlorinated phenols	Flammable; very toxic; respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac damage.
Window Cleaner	Diethylene glycol	Toxic; causes central nervous system depression and degenerative lesions in liver and kidneys.
	Ammonia	Vapor irritating to eyes, respiratory tract, and skin; possible chronic irritation.
Wood Stain/Varnish	Mineral spirits, gasoline	Highly flammable; associated with skin and lung cancer; irritant to skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs; entry into lungs may cause fatal pulmonary edema.
	Methyl and ethyl alcohol	Flammable; damage to eyes, skin, central nervous system.
	Benzene	Flammable; carcinogen; accumulates in fat, bone marrow, liver tissues.
	Lead	Damage to digestive, genitourinary, neuro-muscular and central nervous system; anemia and brain damage.
Antifreeze	Ethylene glycol	Very toxic, 3 ounces can be fatal to adult; damage to cardiovascular system, blood, skin, and kidneys.
	Methanol	Moderately toxic; ingestion may cause coma, respiratory damage.
Car Wax, Polish	Petroleum distillates	Associated with and lung cancer; irritant to skin, eyes, nose, lungs; entry into lungs may cause fatal pulmonary edema.
Motor Oil/Gasoline	Petroleum hydrocarbons (benzene)	Highly flammable; associated with skin and lung cancer; irritant to skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs; pulmonary edema; benzene is a carcinogen.
	Lead	Damage to digestive, genitourinary, neuro-muscular, and central nervous system; anemia and brain damage.

This table is reproduced as found at:

http://www.healthgoods.com/Shopping/Household_Products/Household_Hazardous_Products.htm

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[sts1]Link “phenols”