| 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. |
