Asbestos, lead paint dust, expanding foam isocyanates, paint strippers and cement sensitisers.
24 chemicals in this category
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals — primarily chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), and amosite (brown asbestos) — used extensively in construction, insulation, a…
The UK has more asbestos in its domestic housing stock than almost any other country — estimated 1.5 million domestic properties still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) from the construction boom of the 195…
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals — not a synthetic chemical, but categorised here alongside microplastic fibres because its harm mechanism is identical: microscopic inhalable fibres…
Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is a natural constituent of crude oil and a component of petrol. It is also produced during combustion processes including cigarette smoking, vehicle exhaust, and burning of woo…
Chlorinated paraffins are a family of synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbons produced in enormous quantities (over 1 million tonnes per year globally) as flame retardants, plasticisers, and extreme-pressure lubricant addi…
Chlorinated solvents — primarily dichloromethane (DCM, methylene chloride), trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchloroethylene (PERC) — are powerful degreasers used in paint strippers, oven cleaners, stain removers, and e…
Copper chrome arsenate (CCA) wood preservative was the dominant treatment for structural timber in the UK from the 1950s through to 2004 — used in garden decking, play equipment, fence posts, agricultural buildings, t…
Creosote — distilled from coal tar — is one of the most effective wood preservatives ever developed, and its distinctive dark brown colour and tarry smell are familiar from fence posts, garden sleepers, and telegraph …
Dichloromethane (DCM, methylene chloride) is the most effective solvent paint stripper available — it dissolves virtually any coating in minutes and requires no heat or mechanical effort. It was the active ingredient …
Diuron is a persistent herbicide used in path, patio, and driveway weedkiller products — it kills weeds by blocking photosystem II in plants and remains active in soil for months, providing the "long-lasting" weed pre…
Expanding polyurethane foam — sold under brands including Soudal, Würth, and Great Stuff — is used by DIY renovators to fill gaps around pipes, window frames, loft hatches, and structural voids. The "A" component of t…
Glycol ethers are a family of solvents widely used in cleaning products, paints, varnishes, inks, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical formulations. They fall into two groups: the E-series (ethylene glycol-based, including 2…
Portland cement — the basis of concrete, mortar, and render — naturally contains low levels of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) derived from the raw materials and kiln linings used in manufacture. Cr(VI) in wet cement is so…
Leather tanning converts raw animal hides into durable material, and approximately 80% of global leather production uses chromium(III) sulphate as the tanning agent. Chromium(III) is relatively non-toxic, but it can b…
Isocyanates are highly reactive industrial chemicals used to manufacture polyurethane products — foams, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MD…
Lead is a heavy metal with no safe level of exposure for children. Even at blood levels once considered acceptable, lead causes permanent cognitive impairment, reduced IQ, behavioural problems, and ADHD-like symptoms.…
Lead-tin solder was the standard method of attaching electronic components to circuit boards for decades. While the EU RoHS Directive phased out lead solder in most consumer electronics from 2006, exempt categories (m…
Lead was used as a pigment and drying agent in paint for thousands of years — it produced brilliant whites and yellows and made paint more durable and weatherproof. UK domestic paint contained lead until 1992 when it …
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals defined by their extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds — the strongest in organic chemistry. This is why they do not break down: in the environment, or in the huma…
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) consists of microscopic particles of quartz or cristobalite — the crystalline forms of silica — small enough to reach the deepest parts of the lung. It is released when construction…
Every time a room is painted or wood is varnished with solvent-based products, a significant quantity of volatile organic compounds is released into the indoor air. Solvent-based gloss paints, oil-based undercoats, va…
Styrene is a colourless, oily liquid with a distinctive sweet smell used to manufacture polystyrene plastics, synthetic rubber, resins, and fibreglass. It is classified as a possible human carcinogen (IARC Group 2B) a…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature, releasing vapours into indoor air. Paints, varnishes, wood stains, adhesives, and new furniture are the primary …
Wood preservatives protect outdoor timber from rot, fungi, and insects. The two most historically significant are creosote (a coal tar distillate containing hundreds of PAH compounds including benzo[a]pyrene) and chro…
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