Hylea
Chemicals to Avoid in Consumer Products
A risk-ranked guide to the most concerning chemicals found in everyday products, from personal care to home furnishings.
Why These Chemicals Matter
Of the tens of thousands of chemicals used in consumer products, most have never been fully tested for long-term health effects. This guide focuses on the chemicals with the strongest evidence of harm at real-world exposure levels.
We've organised them into three tiers based on the strength of scientific evidence, severity of potential health effects, and how commonly they appear in everyday products. For our full database, see all chemicals of concern.
How to use this guide
Focus on the high risk group first. Learn which products they hide in, then use our label-reading guide to spot them when shopping.
High Risk Chemicals
Strong scientific evidence links these chemicals to serious health effects including cancer, hormone disruption, and neurotoxicity. They are widespread in consumer products.
BPA (Bisphenol A)
What it is: An industrial chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
Where it hides: Food can linings, thermal receipt paper, plastic food containers (recycling code 7), water bottles.
Why it's concerning: Mimics oestrogen. Linked to reproductive problems, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and developmental issues in children. Detectable in 93% of people tested.
Phthalates
What it is: A family of chemicals used to soften plastics and as solvents in fragrances.
Where it hides: Fragranced products (hidden under "fragrance/parfum"), soft PVC, vinyl flooring, food packaging, children's toys, nail polish.
Why it's concerning: Endocrine disruptors linked to reproductive harm, preterm birth, reduced testosterone, and developmental effects.
PFAS (Forever Chemicals)
What it is: Over 12,000 synthetic chemicals prized for water-, grease-, and stain-resistance.
Where it hides: Non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, some cosmetics.
Why it's concerning: Essentially indestructible. Linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and reproductive harm. Found in 98% of Americans tested.
Formaldehyde
What it is: A colourless gas used as a preservative and in adhesives.
Where it hides: Pressed wood furniture, hair straightening treatments, nail polish, some personal care products (as DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15), building insulation.
Why it's concerning: Known human carcinogen (IARC). Causes respiratory irritation and is linked to leukaemia with chronic exposure.
Lead
What it is: A naturally occurring toxic heavy metal.
Where it hides: Old paint (pre-1978 homes), some imported toys, certain cosmetics, ceramic glazes, old plumbing.
Why it's concerning: Potent neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure. Particularly dangerous for children - causes irreversible cognitive damage and developmental delays.
Flame Retardants
What it is: Chemicals added to slow ignition, including PBDEs, TCEP, and organophosphate variants.
Where it hides: Furniture foam, car seats, electronics, mattresses, carpet padding, building insulation.
Why it's concerning: Persistent, bioaccumulative, linked to thyroid disruption, neurodevelopmental effects, and cancer. Found in virtually all humans tested.
Asbestos
What it is: Naturally occurring silicate minerals with a fibrous structure.
Where it hides: Older buildings (insulation, floor tiles, roofing), some talc-containing products, brake pads.
Why it's concerning: Known carcinogen causing mesothelioma and lung cancer. No safe level of exposure to airborne fibres.
Medium Risk Chemicals
Growing evidence of health concerns, though effects may be less severe than the high-risk group. Common in consumer products and worth avoiding where practical.
Parabens
Where it hides: Shampoo, moisturisers, makeup, body wash, sunscreen.
Why it's concerning: Weak oestrogen mimics detectable in human tissue. Propyl- and butylparaben are of most concern. EU restricts concentrations; US does not.
Triclosan
Where it hides: Antibacterial soaps, hand sanitisers, toothpaste, deodorants, some cleaning products.
Why it's concerning: Hormone disruptor, contributes to antibiotic resistance, persistent in the environment.
SLS / SLES
Where it hides: Shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, face wash, dish soap, laundry detergent.
Why it's concerning: Skin and eye irritant. SLES may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane (a probable carcinogen) from manufacturing.
Synthetic Musks
Where it hides: Perfumes, fragranced personal care, laundry detergent, fabric softener, air fresheners.
Why it's concerning: Bioaccumulative (found in breast milk and fat tissue). Suspected endocrine disruptors. Persistent in the environment.
Oxybenzone
Where it hides: Sunscreens, moisturisers with SPF, lip balm, foundation.
Why it's concerning: Endocrine disruptor detectable in 97% of Americans. Damages coral reefs. Banned in Hawaii and Palau.
Ammonia
Where it hides: Glass cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, oven cleaners, hair dyes.
Why it's concerning: Potent respiratory irritant. Mixing with bleach creates toxic chloramine gas. Especially risky for asthma sufferers.
Lower Risk / Watch List
Some evidence of concern, but evidence may be preliminary or risk depends heavily on context.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Where it hides: Paint, varnish, cleaning products, air fresheners, new furniture, carpeting, adhesives.
Why it's on the list: Contribute to indoor air pollution. Some individual VOCs are highly toxic. Choose low-VOC products and ventilate well.
Silicones
Where it hides: Conditioners, moisturisers, primers, foundations, hair serums.
Why it's on the list: Generally low toxicity but cyclic silicones (D4, D5) are persistent environmental pollutants. D4 is a suspected endocrine disruptor.
Synthetic Fragrances
Where it hides: Virtually every scented product - personal care, cleaning, laundry, air fresheners, candles.
Why it's on the list: "Fragrance" can hide phthalates, synthetic musks, and allergens. About 1 in 3 people report health problems from fragranced products.
Chemicals by Product Type
This table shows which chemicals are most relevant to different product categories.
| Chemical | Personal Care | Cleaning | Food Packaging | Children's | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPA | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Phthalates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PFAS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Formaldehyde | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Lead | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Flame Retardants | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Parabens | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Triclosan | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| VOCs | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Ammonia | ✓ |
For product-specific recommendations, see our Safer Products by Category guide.
How to Protect Yourself
- Go fragrance-free - Eliminates hidden phthalates, synthetic musks, and allergens in one step.
- Switch food storage to glass or stainless steel - Eliminates BPA and phthalate migration, especially when heating.
- Choose certified products - EWG Verified, MADE SAFE, and EPA Safer Choice do the screening for you.
- Ventilate your home - Open windows to reduce VOCs, formaldehyde, and flame retardant dust.
- Dust with HEPA filters - Many persistent chemicals accumulate in household dust.
- Read labels - Our How to Read Labels guide teaches you how to spot red flags.
The "next time you buy" approach
Don't throw everything out. Choose a safer option next time you replace something. This gradual approach is sustainable and effective.