Notoriously extreme products can include personal care products, cleaning supplies, denim, wine, and materials like cement, steel, plastics, and ammonia. Here are some details about these products:
Personal Care Products
- Many cosmetics and personal care products are notoriously under-regulated and can contain harmful chemicals.
- Researchers have found dangerous levels of mercury in skin lightening and anti-aging creams, and chemicals in hair dyes and straighteners have been linked to cancer.
- Fragrances in soaps and shampoos have been linked to poor semen quality and fertility issues.
Cleaning Supplies
- Many cleaning supplies and household products can irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems.
- Some products release dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) .
- Aerosol spray products, air fresheners, chlorine bleach, detergent and dishwashing liquid, dry cleaning chemicals, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture and floor polish, and oven cleaners can all be harmful.
Denim
- The denim industry is notorious for its extremely high water usage, energy consumption, and chemical pollution.
- Synthetic indigo used for dyeing jeans is quite toxic and persists in the environment.
- Finishing agents used to achieve a certain look or texture in denim can contain hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde, which poses health risks to workers.
Wine
- Most wine additives are safe, but there have been a few notoriously famous cases of unsafe wine additives in the past.
- In 1985, German wine quality control scientists discovered the presence of a commercial solvent, diethylene glycol, in some of their low-end wines. Diethylene glycol is a sweet-tasting toxic chemical sometimes used in anti-freeze.
- Wine additives are used to stabilize the product, but their mass-scale production depends heavily on the combustion of fossil fuels, making them major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Materials
- Four materials rank highest on the scale of necessity, forming what is called the four pillars of modern civilization: cement, steel, plastics, and ammonia.
- These materials are not readily replaceable by other materials, and their mass-scale production depends heavily on the combustion of fossil fuels, making them major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Organic fertilizers cannot replace synthetic ammonia.
Its important to note that not all products in these categories are harmful, and many companies are working to create safer and more sustainable products. Consumers can do their part by researching products and ingredients, and choosing products with fewer harmful chemicals.
