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Uses of Chemicals Found on Consumer Products

3/22/2012 1:02:43 PM | by Anonymous


Chemicals are present around us. We are exposed to them from the food we eat to aerosols we use in our home. These chemicals manufactured or produced for use in industrial operations are beneficial to us in many ways.


A lot of consumer products we buy are output of chemical processes. Some of them are adhesives, agrochemicals, cosmetics, flame retardants, flavoring agents, food additives and paints. Adhesives, such as paste, glues, mucilages, sticky pastes, gums, resins, or latex are substances that cause two surfaces to stick together. They are made of epoxy, resin or polyethylene. Agrochemicals are chemicals used in agriculture to improve the production of crops. These include pesticides, fertilizers, fumigants, steroids, antibiotics plant hormones, mycotoxins, etc. Cosmetics or beauty products that are applied to the body, esp. the face, contain chemicals intended to make them appear better, more attractive, or more impressive. Some of the considered cosmetic products are lipsticks, eye and facial makeup, lotions, skin creams, toothpastes, perfumes, nail polish, deodorants and hair colors.


Flame retardants are added to a material to resist it from burning. They are applied to fabrics, furniture, bedding, plastics and others. Flavoring agents are included to food and medicine to improve flavor. These substances fall under food additives. Food additives are ingredients which are of little or no nutritive value, but are used in the processing, manufacturing, packing, adjustment, storage and transportation in order to improve color, flavor, texture or shelf life of food. They include food preservatives, flavoring agents, antioxidants, thickeners, colorants, emulsifiers anti-infective and other similarly used substances.


The use of chemicals on consumer products is advantageous especially on the agricultural sector. Chemical fertilizers provide nutrition on high yielding varieties of food grains and other food materials like sugar, fruits, etc. However, excessive use can spoil the soil properties. Some chemicals are toxic so one must be wary on what substances are present on their product.

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