Toxic Chemicals Information for the Chemically Injured

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Toxic Chemicals
Information for the Chemically Injured
(Editor's Note: Most sources are not written for MCS persons,
but may help provide general information on toxicity.)

Caution to all MCS/ES persons:
Check all advice with your doctor. Some sources are not trained in addressing the specific needs of MCS/ES persons. Natural products can provoke serious reactions, depending on the individual case.

Detoxification
Fact Sheets
Fragrances
General
Heavy Metals
Household Products
Pesticides
Services: Carpet Cleaning
Study
Testing for Chemical Injury
Toxicity Test, Online
Workplace
Fact Sheets
****Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides. NCAP. Journal of Pesticide Reform. Comprehensive articles of infromation and research on the toxicity of key pesticides available online. Information demonstrates the health danger to humans, animals, and environment. Click on Publications & Information: pesticide factsheets (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides) for information on Roundup, Dursban, Malathion, etc. www.pesticide.org/default.htm
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets. Up to date and comprehensive information on common chemicals, solvents, and pesticides. Acute and chronic health effects and acceptable limits of exposure. Also, note the limits of the research test results available for specific chemicals. http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm

MSDS online. A powerful search engine is today's leading Web and image-based library of manufacturers' original MSDSs. http://www.msdsonline.com

MSDS Search 2001. http://www.msdssearch.com

MSDS Solutions. Need product name and manufacturer for chemical search. www.msds.com

What are MSDS's and where can I find them? An impressive directory of MSDS. http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html

Common Solvents: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Lists acute and chronic health effects and acceptable limits on exposure.
http://crystal.biol.csufresno.edu:8080/~joyce/safety/infosite/solvent.htm
MSDS Index for products sold by the HPS Inc.
Photographic chemicals, solvents and inks for the graphic arts industry. Lists acute and chronic health effects and acceptable limits on exposure.
http://ftp.hpsinc.com/msds/home.htm

Fragrances
Disability and Fragrance in the Workplace. "The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued an administrative decision . . . that upholds MCS as a disability and states that a fragrance free workplace is not an accommodation that can be simply dismissed as unreasonable." Our Toxic Times, Volume 12, Number 5 Issue Number 131, May 2001. Chemical Injury Information Network Newsletter. http://www.ciin.org
Environmental Health Network. (EHN) Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides support, advocacy, and information for the chemically and electromagnetically sensitive, and others who share our concerns. We realize that not all barriers are visible and not all disabilities are obvious. Therefore, EHN's focus is on issues of access and development relating to the health and welfare of environmentally sensitive persons. P.O. Box 1155, Larkspur, CA. 94977-1155. Support and Information Line (SAIL) 415-541-5075 http://www.ehnca.org or http://users.lmi.net/wilworks
EHN Petition about the harmful effects of perfume. The FDA Citizens' Petition has been filed by EHN on behalf of everyone whose health is harmed by fragrances. It was assigned Docket Number 99P-1340 in May 1999 by the Food and Drug Administration. It is still open, receiving letters and documentation. This petition provides the golden opportunity to write to the FDA about the harmful effects of fragrances and adverse events suffered because of fragrances used by self AND/OR other people. All folks have to do is to reference "Docket Number 99P-1340" and their comments will be tallied along with all the others the FDA has received regarding the petition to get the FDA warning message on labels of fragrances released to market without substantiation of safety. E-mail: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov Full contact information, analyses and complementary information available from EHN's page, http://www.ehnca.org/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm

Fragrance Control and Health Care Facilities. HEAL. Human Ecology Action League. The Human Ecologist. "Fragrance control and health care facilities: An interview with Marlene Freeley, R.N., M.S., Director, Occupational Health Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts," by Louise Kosta. Issue Number 96, Winter 2002. Order this issue or subscribe to quarterly publication. Phone: 404-248-1898 http://members.aol.com/HEALNatnl

Fragranced Products Information Network. For general information on health effects and other information related to fragrance http://www.fpinva.org Referenced article related to fragrance http://www.fragrancex.com/Fragrance-Information/fragrance-industry.htm

Is a fragrance free workplace right for you? ABC Local News Story. January 30, 2003 http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=54226

Get A Whiff Of This: Perfumes (fragrances) -- the Invisible Chemical Poisons, Connie Pitts. The book contains the author's personal story, scientific abstracts, information on a petition filed against the FDA, a chemical analysis, letters and opinions from expert doctors, and much more. This book is great for educating doctors, family members and friends, and its main purpose is to educate unsuspecting consumers. Rosalind C. Anderson, Ph.D. wrote a fabulous foreword. The book can be ordered directly through www.1stbooks.com or their toll-free number, 1-888-280-7715, or www.amazon.com and www.bn.com

Air Fresheners. The chemicals in air fresheners can vary, just as the chemicals in any other scented products. So, it is difficult to know what is in a particular brand. Anderson Laboratories conducted a study on toxic effects of air fresheners.You may be able to contact them for more detailed information. http://www.andersonlaboratories.com/alweb21a.htm
See Research Reports. http://www.andersonlaboratories.com/alweb23.htm

Aromatic Candles. 'E' The Environmental Magazine. "A Burning Dilemma: Aromatic Products May Pollute Indoor Air and Your Health." By Becky Gillette. http://www.emagazine.com/november-december_1998/1198gl_health.html

Fragranced Candles. Danish Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.mst.dk/chemi/Chemicals/lys_uk.doc Tests showed that fragrance candles contained: Toluene 7%, xylene 3.5%, d-limonene 12.2%, limonene 10.5%, 4.4 VOCS in the soot. 4.5 Terpenes, phthalates, etc. (To find: Do search for this subject or try the link below. Save in Word or similar format, if possible.) http://www.mst.dk/homepage/default.asp?Sub=http://www.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2001/87-7944-596-9/html/kap12_eng.htm

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Write about the Toxins in Perfume
Environmental Health Network of California Files Citizens' Petition With the FDA
The Fragrance Industry is UNregulated and Protected by Trade Secret Laws
Complete information about perfume lab analysis, label information, sample letter and addresses are included. Write about how the chemicals effect you!
http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm

Update 11-02: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky introduced House Bill 1947, also known as SNIFF (Safe Notification and Identification For Fragrances) The original bill had one co-sponsor-- Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV) and perhaps another. It will have to be re-introduced into the next Congress, if Rep. Schakowsky is willing to do so for a third time. SNIFF would require the Food and Drug Administration to let consumers know, by means of label requirements, what known allergens and toxins are in fragranced products. There are many of them. Hardly anyone seems to know about HB 1947. Please alert all you correspondents!

* Environmental Health Network asks you to write to your own representatives- "A lot of people like to talk about their reactions to fragrances, but they don't like to write about it . . . at least juding by the fact that in 3.5 years, the FDA Petition has received only 1,300 letters and the numbers of people adversely affected by fragrances reach in the reach in the millions." More info about SNIFF: http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnlinx/s.htm#SNIFF
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General
Poison Control. Call the number listed in your phone book. It is best, but not absolutely necessary to have the specific name of the chemical(s) ready. Editor's Note: I have found their information to be accurate and helpful, though not understanding of the MCS illness.

National Library of Medicine. Search the Hazardous Substances Data Bank. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?HSDB

Debate on Phthalates' Safety. Beauty Coverup? A Cosmetic Ingredient Is Linked to Animal Defects. Its Human Risks Are Less Clear, by Brian Reid, Special to The Washington Post, Tuesday, November 26, 2002; Page F1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36254-2002Nov25?language=printer
". . . a small coalition of consumer groups, led by Environmental Working Group and Health Care Without Harm, has cried foul, claiming the chemicals' risk to millions of cosmetic-wearing women has been underestimated."

Inhaled Particles IX. The proceedings (extended abstracts) of an international symposium held in Cambridge, England, last September, are now available free on line via http://www.bohs.org/pubs/library/ which leads to the list of extended abstracts and access to the pdf files. There are about 110 items, arranged in sections Silica, Fibres, Ultrafines and TiO2, Coal and slate, Other particles, Deposition and biokinetics, Asthma and air pollution.

The book version is expected to be published by Oxford University Press, as a supplement to Annals of Occupational Hygiene, at the end of July (2002). The on-line version will remain available for some weeks. Dr. Trevor Ogden, Editor in Chief, Annals of Occupational Hygiene. Annals on-line at http://annhyg.oupjournals.org/
E-mail: ogden@ogs.org.uk or annals@bohs.org

Environmental Justice Data On-line. Different degrees of environmental burden felt by different racial, ethnic and income groups are documented and available for every community in the U.S. http://www.Scorecard.org Use zip codes to get the local facts.

Long Term Effects of Chemical Agents. Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, USAMRICD. On-line printable version. Contains organophosphates section for the long term effects associated with them. http://chemdef.apgea.army.mil/textbook/Ch-8.pdf

Hazardous Chemicals in Human and Environmental Health. International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). On-line version free of charge: The file is full-text html and can be printed. http://www.who.int/pcs

The Environmental Connection. Information and resources about ecological and environmental health issues. Come back often, as we will be adding new features to our website in the coming days and weeks. Subscribe to our print newsletter, The Environmental Connection, premiering May 2003. Coming Soon! Just for Kids! Our Cool Projects for Kids website will be debuting this fall. This free website will provide teachers, homeschooling parents and students with unique ecology and environmental health project ideas to complement middle and high school science, history and English studies. http://www.theenvironmentalconnection.com

Heavy Metals
Arsenic Treated Wood Precautions. http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/summer02.wood

No CCA Wood. (Arsenic Treated Wood) The CCA Pressure Treated Wood Information Site. http://www.noccawood.ca/

CCA Victims. Features accounts and reports about CCA treated wood injury victims from around the world. The majority of the information comes directly from the EPA archives, but will also be posting first-hand accounts to this new Web page as they are submitted to us in the future. http://www.bancca.org/CCA_Victims/CCA_victims.htm

Arsenic-Laden Fertilizer. Groups Ask Major Retailers to Stop Sales of Ironite. Public health and environmental advocates from around the United States called on Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target to stop selling a fertilizer made from mining waste that is heavily contaminated with arsenic. Other fertilizers besides Ironite contain toxic waste. Retailers can obtain information about the levels of heavy metals in fertilizers at the following website: The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Pesticide Management Division is responsible for regulating the labeling and distribution of commercial fertilizers. www.wa.gov/agr/pmd/fertilizers/index.htm.

Letters to Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target at Mineral Policy Center. http://www.mineralpolicy.org Click on "Take Action" and select letter on that page OR http://actionnetwork.org/mpc/home.html.

Article: PR: Home Depot, Target Asked to Stop Selling Arsenic-Laced Fertilizer June 11, 2002 http://actionnetwork.org/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=2001953

Solvents and Chemical Injury. "Organic Solvents Damage Brain and Central Nervous System" http://www.monitor.net/rachel/r137.html
RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH WEEKLY #137, July 11, 1989.
Environmental Research Foundation P.O. Box 5036, Annapolis, MD 21403 Fax (410) 263-8944;
E-mail: erf@rachel.org

Household Products
California; Chemicals in Home a Big Smog Source; Cleansers, cosmetics and other products pump 100 tons of pollutants daily into the Southland's air, ranking second to tailpipe emissions, studies show. The Los Angeles Times; Los Angeles, Calif.; Mar 9, 2003; Gary Polakovic. (Search Archives with title. Article for purchase only. $2.50) http://www.latimes.com

BPA, Chemical Used to Make Plastics, Found To Leach From Polycarbonate Drinking Bottles into Humans; ScienceDaily (May 22, 2009) — A new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found that participants who drank for a week from polycarbonate bottles -- the popular, hard-plastic drinking bottles and baby bottles -- showed a two-thirds increase in their urine of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). Exposure to BPA, used in the manufacture of polycarbonate and other plastics, has been shown to interfere with reproductive development in animals and has been linked with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in humans. Harvard School of Public Health. "BPA, Chemical Used To Make Plastics, Found To Leach From Polycarbonate Drinking Bottles Into Humans." ScienceDaily 22 May 2009. 22 May 2009 < http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521141208.htm>.

Healthy Families, Healthy Environment. A Christian ministry helping families enrich their physical and spiritual health. Health tips about protecting you and your family from toxic chemicals for each room in your house and the yard. www.healthyfamiliesnow.org/home.asp

Teflon Dangers. Environmental Working Group. EPA Issues Powerful Indictment Of Chemical in Teflon. Government Scientists Find Blood of U.S. Population Is Contaminated At Levels That Could Cause Harm http://www.ewg.org/policymemo/20021113/20030328.php

Pesticides
****Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides. NCAP. Journal of Pesticide Reform. Comprehensive articles of infromation and research on the toxicity of key pesticides available online. Information demonstrates the health danger to humans, animals, and environment. Click on Publications & Information: pesticide factsheets (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides) for information on Roundup, Dursban, Malathion, etc. www.pesticide.org/default.htm
Tox Free Inc. Insecticide contamination for home buyers. 1-800-704-1662. Information & support groups. http://www.dcci.com/toxfree/

Pesticides on Airlines. What You Need to Know. Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO. http://www.afanet.org/pesticides_what_you_need_2_know.htm