| 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 |
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. |
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