PotentialAssociations

ADHD Allergies Alzheimer's Anemia/Immune Autism Autoimmunediseases(RA, BloodPressureandKidney Cancer

(Asthma,Rhinitis, Suppression Lupus,MS,psoriasis) Disease
ContactDermatitis
etc.)
BisphenolA Antimony Aluminum Benzene Mercury Arsenic Arsenic Aluminum(breast?)

Lead BisphenolA Lead Cadmium Lead Lead Arsenic(skin,bladder,

lung,liver,kidney,
prostate)

Mercury Cadmium Mercury Lead Mercury Mercury Benzene(leukemia)

Phthalates Formaldehyde Polycyclicaromatic Mold(andotherbiotoxins) BisphenolA(prostate,

hydrocarbons(PAHs) uterine,breast)

Polychlorinated Mold(andother Cadmium(lung,prostate,

biphenyls(PCBs) biotoxins) kidney,bladder)

Nickel ElectromagneticFields
(leukemia)

Phthalates Formaldehyde(nose,
throat)

Heterocyclicamines
(stomach,colorectal,
pancreatic,breast)

Lead(lung,stomach,
bladder)

Nickel(lung,nose,larynx,
prostate)

Perchloroethylene
(leukemia,skin,colon,
lung,larynx,bladder,
urogenitaltract)

Phthalates(prostate,
uterine,breast)

Solvents(acetonitrile,
benzene,carbon
tetrachloride,
chloroform,
perchloroethylene,and
trichloroethylene)(liver,
biliarytractandnon
Hodgkin'slymphomas)

VinylChloride,PVCand
Dioxin(PersistentOrganic
PollutantsPOPs)(breast)
 PotentialAssociations

ChronicFatigue, Diabetes/Insulin FertilityIssues,Endometriosis, MultipleChemical NeurobehavioralIssues

Fibromyalgia Resistance MenstrualDisorders Sensitivities,(Migraines, (MemoryProblems,MentalIllness,
(EndocrineDisruption) Headaches) Depression,Fatigue,Anxiety,
Confusion)
Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Benzene Aluminum

Benzene BisphenolA BisphenolA Formaldehyde Arsenic

Cadmium ElectromagneticFields Cadmium Mold(andotherbiotoxins) ElectromagneticFields

Electromagnetic Pesticides ElectromagneticFields Perchloroethylene Lead

Radiation (PersistentOrganic
PollutantsPOPs)
Formaldehyde PolychlorinatedBiphenyls Formaldehyde(menstrual Pesticides Mercury
(PCB)(PersistentOrganic disorders) (PersistentOrganic
PollutantsPOPs) PollutantsPOPs)

Lead VinylChloride,PVCand Lead Polychlorinatedbiphenyls Mold(andotherbiotoxins)

Dioxin(PersistentOrganic (PCBs)
PollutantsPOPs)

Mercury Mercury Solvents Phthalates

Mold(andother Phthalates VinylChloride,PVCand Polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)

biotoxins) Dioxin

Nickel Polychlorinatedbiphenyls Solvents(acetonitrile,benzene,

(PCBs) carbontetrachloride,chloroform,
perchloroethylene,and
trichloroethylene).

Perchloroethylene Polycyclicaromatic
hydrocarbons(PAHs)

Pesticides Solvents(acetonitrile,benzene,
(PersistentOrganic carbontetrachloride,
PollutantsPOPs) chloroform,perchloroethylene,
andtrichloroethylene)

Polychlorinatedbiphenyls VinylChloride,PVCandDioxin
(PCBs) (PersistentOrganicPollutants
POPs)(endometriosis)

Solvents(acetonitrile,
benzene,carbon
tetrachloride,
chloroform,
perchloroethylene,and
trichloroethylene)

VinylChloride,PVCand
Dioxin(PersistentOrganic
PollutantsPOPs)
 PotentialAssociations

NeurodevelopmentalIssues(in Osteoporosis Parkinson'sDisease PeripheralNeuropathy

thewomb)

Arsenic Cadmium Manganese Arsenic

Lead Lead Pesticides Lead

(PersistentOrganic
PollutantsPOPs)

Mercury Mercury

Polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs) Polychlorinatedbiphenyls
(PCBs)

Solvents(acetonitrile,benzene,
carbontetrachloride,chloroform,
perchloroethylene,and
trichloroethylene)
Toxin DefinitionandSources

Aluminum Aluminumisachemicalelementandasthepuremetalorasalloys(magnalium,aluminumbronze,etc.)isusedforaircraft,utensils,apparatus,electricalconductors,andinsteadofcopperindentalalloys.Thecoarsepowderisused
inaluminothermics(thermiteprocess);thefinepowderasflashlightinphotography,inexplosives,fireworks,andinaluminumpaints;andforabsorbingoccludedgasesinmanufactureofsteel.Aluminumhasbeenexemptedfrom
testingforsafetybytheFDAunderaconvolutedlogicwhereinitisclassifiedasGRAS(GenerallyRegardedAsSafe).IthasneverbeentestedforsafetybytheFDAandtherearenorestrictionswhatsoeverontheamountoruseof
aluminum.

Antimony Antimonyisachemicalelementandisusedinelectronicsandflameproofing,inpaints,rubber,ceramics,enamels,batteries,ammunition,cablesheathing,matches,plumbing,somesolders,drugstotreatLeishmaniasis,pewter,
andasahardeningagentinawidevarietyofalloys.

Arsenic Arsenicisanotoriouslypoisonousmetalloidwithmanyallotropicforms,includingayellow(molecularnonmetallic)andseveralblackandgreyforms(metalloids).Threemetalloidalformsofarsenic,eachwithadifferentcrystal
structure,arefoundfreeinnature.However,itismorecommonlyfoundasarsenideandinarsenatecompounds,severalhundredofwhichareknown.ArseniciswidelyusedasatreatmentforwoodandArsenicandits
compoundsarealsousedaspesticides,herbicides,insecticides(likeMSMAandDSMA),inanimalfeedasamethodofdiseasepreventionandgrowthstimulation,asasemiconductormaterial,inintegratedcircuits,inlaserdiodes
andLEDs,inleadshotsandbullets,insmallquantitiesasanadditivetobrassusedtomakeplumbingfittings,andfortaxonomicsamplepreservation.

Benzene Benzeneisanorganicsolventthatisoneofthe20mostwidelyusedchemicalsintheUnitedStates.Itisusedtomakeotherchemicalsthatarethenusedtomakeplastics,resins,nylon,andothersyntheticfibers.Itisusedtomake
explosives,photographicchemicals,rubber,lubricants,dyes,adhesives,coatings,paint,detergents,drugs,andpesticides.Itisusedinprinting,lithography,andfoodprocessing.Ithasbeenusedasagasolineadditiveinthepast,
butthatusehasbeengreatlyreducedintheUnitedStatessincethe1990s.Benzeneisformedfrombothnaturalprocessesandhumanactivities.Itisproducedfromvolcanoesandforestfires,andisanaturalpartofcrudeoil,
gasoline,andcigarettesmoke.

BisphenolA(BPA) BisphenolA(BPA)isachemicalusedtomakeastrongplasticcalledpolycarbonatethatisusedinmanythingslikedrinkingbottles.BPAisalsousedasaliningontheinsideofmanymetalfoodcanstokeepthecansfromrusting.

Cadmium Cadmiumisametalelementandoccursasaminorcomponentinmostzincoresandthereforeisabyproductofzincproduction.Cadmiumwasforalongtimeusedaspigmentandforcorrosionresistantplatingonsteel.Cadmium
compoundswerealsousedtostabilizeplastic.Withtheexceptionofitsuseinnickelcadmiumbatteries,theuseofcadmiumisgenerallydecreasinginallotherapplications.Thisdecreaseisduetothehightoxicityand
carcinogenicityofcadmiumandtheassociatedhealthandenvironmentalconcerns.Althoughcadmiumistoxic,oneenzyme,acarbonicanhydrasewithacadmiumasreactivecenter,hasbeendiscovered.

Electromagnetic Anelectromagneticfieldisaphysicalfieldproducedbyelectricallychargedobjects.Itaffectsthebehaviorofchargedobjectsinthevicinityofthefield.Lightistheelectromagneticfieldinacertainfrequencyrange.Atlower
Fields frequenciestheelectromagneticfieldmayberadiowavesorinfraredlight,whileathigherfrequenciesitmaybeUVlightorxrays,amongothers.Theuseofelectromagneticradiationisseeninvariousdisciplines.Forexample,X
raysarehighfrequencyelectromagneticradiationandareusedinradioastronomy,radiographyinmedicine,andradiometryintelecommunications.CommonapplicationsofEMFsincludelasersinbarcodereadersandinCDand
DVDplayers,radiowavesfromcellularphones,terrestrialradiosignals,televisions,cordlessphones,andmanyothers.Infact,anythingthatuseselectricityputsoffanEMF,fromsimplehomeappliancestohighvoltagepowerlines.

Formaldehyde FormaldehydeisachemicalcompoundwiththeformulaCH2O.Aqueoussolutionsofformaldehydearereferredtoasformalin.Annualworldproductionofformaldehydein2005was46billionpounds.Inviewofitswidespread
use,toxicity,andvolatility,exposuretoformaldehydeisasignificantconsiderationforhumanhealth.Formaldehydeisanintermediateintheoxidationofmethaneaswellasothercarboncompounds,andthusisproducedinforest
fires,automobileexhaust,andintobaccosmokeandcanevenbeproducedintheatmosphereaspartofsmog.Formaldehydeisaningredientinpermanentadhesivessuchasthoseusedinplywoodorcarpeting;insanitarypaper
productssuchasfacialtissue,tablenapkins,andpapertowels;inpaintsandexplosives;anditisusedinthetextileindustrytomakefabricscreaseresistant.Formaldehydehasbeenfoundasacontaminantinseveralbathproducts,
atlevelsfrom54610ppm.

HCAs
Heterocyclicamines(HCAs)arethecarcinogenicchemicalsformedfromthecookingofmusclemeatssuchasbeef,pork,fowl,andfishathightemperatures.HCAsformwhenaminoacidsandcreatinereactathighcooking
temperatures.Researchershaveidentified17differentHCAsresultingfromthecookingofmusclemeatsthatmayposehumancancerrisk.FourfactorsinfluenceHCAformation:typeoffood,cookingmethod,temperature,and
time.HCAsarealmostexclusivelyproducedbycookingmusclemeats;othersourcesofproteinsuchasmilk,eggs,tofu,andorganmeatssuchasliverhaveverylittleornoHCAcontentnaturallyorwhencooked.Temperatureisthe
mostimportantfactorintheformationofHCAs.Frying,broiling,andbarbecuingproducethelargestamountsofHCAsbecausethemeatsarecookedatveryhightemperatures.

Lead Leadisasoftheavymetalelementusedinbuildingconstruction,leadacidbatteries,bulletsandshot,weights,andaspartofsolder,pewter,fusiblealloysandradiationshields(e.g.,inXrayrooms).Otherusesforleadinclude
ceramicglazes,stainedglass,polyvinylchloride(PVC)production,fishingsinkers,somecandlewicks,inleadedglass,andinsolderforelectronics.Untilthe1990s,leadwasusedinpaintandgasoline.Likemercury,anotherheavy
metal,leadisapotentneurotoxinthataccumulatesinsofttissuesandboneovertime.
Manganese Manganeseisfoundasafreeelementinnatureandinmanyminerals.Asafreeelement,manganeseisametalwithimportantindustrialmetalalloyuses,particularlyinstainlesssteelsasatreatmentforrustandcorrosion
preventionandinindustrialpigments.Manganesedioxideisusedasthecathodeinstandardandalkalinedisposabledrycellsandbatteries.Itisalsousedasanalloyinmostbeveragecans,anadditiveinunleadedgasoline,andin
recentlymintedU.S.dollarcoins.Manganeseisarequiredtracemineralforallknownlivingorganismsanditsionsfunctionascofactorsforanumberofenzymesinhigherorganisms,wheretheyareessentialindetoxificationof
superoxidefreeradicals.Manganesecancauseapoisoningsyndromewithneurologicaldamagewhichissometimesirreversible.
Mercury Mercuryisaheavy,silverymetalelementandisliquidatornearroomtemperature.Itoccursindepositsthroughouttheworldmostlyascinnabar,whichisthesourceoftheredpigmentvermilion.Mercuryisusedin
thermometers,barometers,andotherscientificapparatus(thoughitsusefortheseapplicationsisdecreasing),inamalgammaterialfordentalrestoration,influorescentbulbs(includingcompactfluorescentsorCFLs),and
batteries.Environmentalsourcesofmercuryarebothnaturalandmanmade.Naturalsourcessuchasvolcanoesareresponsibleforapproximatelyhalfofatmosphericmercuryemissions.Theotherhalfcomesmainlyfromcoal
firedpowerplants,goldproduction,smelters,cementplants,andwastedisposal.

Mold Moldsincludeallspeciesofmicroscopicfungithatgrowintheformofmulticellularfilaments.Incontrast,microscopicfungithatgrowassinglecellsarecalledyeasts.Moldsareubiquitousinnature,andmoldsporesareacommon
componentofhouseholdandworkplacedustandsomepeoplemayhaveallergicreactionstothem.Somemoldsalsoproducemycotoxinsthatcanposeserioushealthriskstohumansandanimals.Exposuretohighlevelsof
mycotoxinscanleadtoneurologicalproblemsandinsomecasesdeath.Prolongedexposure,e.g.dailyworkplaceexposure,canbeparticularlyharmful.Thetermtoxicmoldreferstomoldsthatproducemycotoxins,suchas
Stachybotryschartarum ,andnottoallmoldsingeneral.

Nickel Nickelisachemicalelementthatiscorrosionresistant,andisusedinalloys;asaplating;inthemanufactureofcoins,magnets,andcommonhouseholdutensils;instainlesssteel,rechargeablebatteries,andelectricguitarstrings;
asacatalystforhydrogenation;andinavarietyofotherapplications.Itislistedasanessentialtracemineralbutitsroleinthebodyisunknown.
Perchloroethylene Perchloroethyleneisamanufacturedchemicalthatisprimarilyusedfordrycleaningfabricsanddegreasingmetals.Itisalsousedtomakeotherchemicals,includingchlorofluorocarbons,andrubbercoatings;asaninsulatingfluid
(PCE) andcoolinggasinelectricaltransformers;andasascouring,sizing,anddesizingagentintextiles.Itisaningredientinaerosolproducts,solventsoaps,printinginks,adhesives,sealants,paintremovers,papercoatings,leather
treatments,automotivecleaners,polishes,lubricants,andsilicones.Itisalsoaningredientinsomeconsumerproducts,includingtypewritercorrectionfluid,adhesives,spotremovers,woodcleaners,andshoepolish.

PersistentOrganic PersistentOrganicPollutants(POPs)areorganiccompoundsthatareresistanttoenvironmentaldegradationthroughchemical,biological,andphotolyticprocesses.Becauseofthis,theyhavebeenobservedtopersistinthe
Pollutants(POPs) environment,tobecapableoflongrangetransport,tobioaccumulateinhumanandanimaltissue,tobiomagnifyinfoodchains,andtohavepotentialsignificantimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment.ManyPOPsare
currentlyorwereinthepastusedaspesticides.Othersareusedinindustrialprocessesandintheproductionofarangeofgoodssuchassolvents,polyvinylchloride(PVC),andpharmaceuticals.Althoughmanydifferentchemicals
maybedefinedasPOPs,12POPs,allchlorinecontainingorganiccompounds,havebeenchosenasprioritypollutantsbytheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgram(UNEP)fortheirimpactonhumanhealthandenvironment.The
twelvePOPsincludemanyofthefirstgenerationorganochlorineinsecticides,e.g.DDTandaldrin,industrialchemicalproducts,e.g.PCBs(polychlorinatedbiphenyls),orunwantedbyproductssuchasdioxinsandfurans.

Pesticides(someof Apesticideisanysubstanceormixtureofsubstanceintendedforpreventing,destroying,repellingormitigatinganypest.Apesticidemaybeachemicalsubstance,biologicalagent,antimicrobial,disinfectantordeviceusedagainst
whichareaclassof anypest.Pestsincludeinsects,plantpathogens,weeds,mollusks,birds,mammals,fish,nematodes(roundworms)andmicrobes.
POPs)
Phthalates Phthalatesaremanmadechemicalsusedinmanydifferentproducts.Theyaremainlyusedasplasticizers(substancesaddedtoplasticstoincreasetheirflexibility,transparency,durability,andlongevity),withtheirprimaryuse
beingforthesofteningofpolyvinylchloride(PVC).Thesechemicalsarefoundinsometoysandbottles.Theyarealsousedincosmeticsandotherpersonalcareproductslikesomelotionsandshampoos.Phthalatesarebeing
phasedoutofmanyproductsintheUnitedStatesandEuropeanUnionoverhealthconcerns.

Polychlorinated Before1977,PCBswereusedasinsulation,coolants,andlubricantsintransformers,capacitors,vacuumpumps,gastransmissionturbines,hydraulicfluids,andotherelectricalequipment;asfillersincastingwaxes;asplasticizersin
Biphenyls(PCBs)(A paints,plastics,andrubberproducts;andinsurfacecoatings,sealants,caulkingcompounds,fireretardants,dedustingagents,glues,inks,pesticides,andcarbonlesscopypaper.Productsmadebefore1977thatmaystillcontain
classofPersistent PCBsincludeoldfluorescentlights,electricaldevices,andmicroscopehydraulicoils.U.S.productionofPCBsstoppedin1977becauseofsuspectedharmfulhealthandenvironmentaleffects;exportsandimportsofPCBsstoppedin
OrganicPollutants 1979.
POPs)
Polycyclicaromatic Polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs)arechemicalcompoundsthatconsistoffusedaromaticrings.PAHsoccurinoil,coal,andtardeposits,andareproducedasbyproductsoffuelburning(whetherfossilfuelorbiomass).PAHs
hydrocarbons(PAHs) arealsofoundinfoods.StudieshaveshownthatmostfoodintakeofPAHscomesfromcereals,oils,andfats.Smallerintakescomefromvegetablesandcookedmeats.

Solvents(Aclassof Solventsareliquidsorgasesthatcandissolveorextractothersubstances.Theyareusedtodissolvegrease,oil,andpaint;tothinormixpigments,paint,glue,pesticides,andepoxyresins;tocleanelectronics,automotiveparts,
PersistentOrganic tools,andengines;andtomakeotherchemicals.Productsthatcontainsolventsincludepaint,ink,coatings,householdcleaners,drycleaningfluid,spotremovers,adhesives,pharmaceuticals,personalcareproducts,nailpolish
PollutantsPOPs) remover,microelectronics,automotiveproducts,metalandvapordegreasers,paintstrippersandthinners,refrigerants,foamblowingagents,andcoolants.Industriesthatusesolventsincludedrycleaning,painting,printing,soap
(acetonitrile, manufacturing,paintremoving,textilemanufacturing,asphaltpaving,manufacturingofprintedcircuitboardsandsemiconductors,cleaningofprintedcircuitboards,agricultureandfoodproduction,pesticideapplication,hospitals,
benzene,carbon oilpainting,andartrestoration.
tetrachloride,
f
VinylChloride,PVC Vinylchlorideisanorganochloride(anorganiccompoundcontainingatleastonecovalentlybondedChlorineatom).Itisalsocalledvinylchloridemonomer,orVCM.Thiscolorlesscompoundisanimportantindustrialchemical
andDioxin(Aclassof chieflyusedtoproducethepolymerpolyvinylchloride(PVC).VinylchlorideliquidisfedtopolymerizationreactorswhereitisconvertedfromamonomertoapolymerPVCwhichisheatedandmoldedintoendproductssuchas
PersistentOrganic PVCpipeandbottles.Dioxinsoccurasbyproductsinthemanufactureoforganochlorides,intheincinerationofchlorinecontainingsubstancessuchasPVC(polyvinylchloride),inthebleachingofpaper,andfromnaturalsources
PollutantsPOPs) suchasvolcanoesandforestfires.

VolatileOrganic VolatileOrganicCompounds(VOCs)arechemicalsthatcontaincarbonandareubiquitousinnature.VOCsareorganiccompoundsthateasilybecomevaporsorgases.Alongwithcarbon,theycontainelementssuchashydrogen,
Compounds(VOC) oxygen,fluorine,chlorine,bromine,sulfur,ornitrogen.VOCsarereleasedfromburningfuel,suchasgasoline,wood,coal,ornaturalgas.Theyarealsoreleasedfromsolvents,paints,glues,andotherproductsthatareusedand
storedathomeandatwork.ManyVOCsarealsohazardousairpollutants.VOCs,whencombinedwithnitrogenoxides,reacttoformgroundlevelozone,orsmog.ExamplesofVOCsaregasoline,benzene,formaldehyde,solvents
suchastolueneandxylene,andperchloroethylene(ortetrachloroethylene),themainsolventusedindrycleaning.ManyVOCsarecommonlyusedinpaintthinners,lacquerthinners,mothrepellents,airfresheners,hobbysupplies,
woodpreservatives,aerosolsprays,degreasers,automotiveproducts,anddrycleaningfluids.

AgencyforToxicSubstancesandDisease
Registry
NationalLibraryofMedicineEnvironmental
HealthAndToxicologySpecialized
InformationServices
NationalPesticideInformationCenter
TOXNET
CDC'sThirdnationalReportonHuman
ExposuretoEnvironmentalChemicals
Resources
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro.html
http://npic.orst.edu/rmpp.htm
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/thirdreport.pdf