| Chemical |
Common Uses |
Potential Effects |
|
| Carcinogens |
| Arsenic |
Wood preservative, insecticides. |
Lung, skin, bladder, kidney and liver cancers; nausea; blood-vessel damage. |
| Benzene |
Chemical manufacture; synthetic fibers, gasoline. |
Leukemia, anemia, dizziness, headaches, rapid heart rate. |
| Chromium |
Metal plating, dyes, pigments. |
Lung cancer, skin irritation, kidney and liver damage. Birth defects in mice. |
| Suspected carcinogens |
| Methylene Chloride |
Solvent in drug manufacture and metal cleaning. |
Skin irritation, dizziness, nausea. Lung cancer in mice. |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) |
Coolant, lubricant in electrical equipment. |
Nose and throat irritation, acne, rashes. Liver, kidney and skin damage in animals. |
| Tetrachloroethylene |
Dry cleaning, metal degreasing. |
Dizziness, nausea, skin irritation. Liver cancer in mice; kidney cancer in rats. |
| Chloroform |
Chemical manufacture. |
Skin sores, dizziness, liver and kidney damage. Birth defects, liver and kidney cancer in animals. |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane |
Chemical manufacture, solvent, gasoline. |
Heart, liver, kidney, lung and nervous- system damage. Tumors in animals. |
| Lead |
Batteries, metal solder, paints. |
Damage to central nervous system, kidneys, immune system. |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane |
Fibers, carpets, coatings, plastics manufacture. |
Lung, liver, nervous-system damage; Birth defects in animals. |
| Other chemicals |
| Acetone |
Solvent; chemical, drug, plastics manufacture. |
Nose, throat, skin and eye irritation; dizziness; nausea. |
| Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) |
Paints, coatings, cleaning agent. |
Nose, throat, skin and eye irritation. |
| Chlorobenzene |
Solvent, chemical manufacture. |
Headaches, nausea, vomiting. Brain, liver and kidney damage in animals. |
| Cyanide |
Chemical and plastics manufacture, electroplating. |
Brain and heart damage, skin irritation. Birth defects in rats. |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane |
Paint and varnish remover; soil fumigant. |
Liver and kidney damage; dizziness, headaches and nausea. Cancer in animals. |
| Ethylbenzene |
Paints, inks, insecticides, gasoline. |
Eye and throat irritation, dizziness. Birth defects, liver, kidney damage in animals. |
| Mercury |
Batteries; chemical manufacture. |
Damage to central nervous system, kidneys; skin rashes, nausea, increased heart rate. |
| Toluene |
Gasoline, paint and chemical manufacture; rubber. |
Kidney damage; nausea, dizziness. |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane |
Glue, paint, degreasers, aerosols. |
Dizziness, lightheadedness, skin irritation. |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) |
Solvent, adhesives. |
Kidney, lung, liver and nerve damage; skin rashes. |
| Xylene |
Solvent, paint, varnishes. |
Headaches, dizziness; skin, eye, nose and throat irritation. |
