Over the years much concern has been raised over certain chemicals used in pesticides and their widespread use in household applications such as insecticides.

 

One particularly toxic compound used in pesticides -- organophosphate -- has been linked to different kinds of cancers and hormonal disruption. It works by breaking down quickly into the environment and is considered one of the most toxic in agricultural use. There are approximately 40 different kinds of pesticides with this compound as their base that are currently on the market in the United States.

 

One type of organophosphate pesticide called Chlorpyrifos, otherwise known as Dursban, the common trade name it was sold under, was once the most widely used pesticide in the United States and was banned from use in gardens and homes by the EPA in 2000 after scientific research uncovered its dangerous potential effects. It was mainly used in home and garden bug sprays and for the treatment of termites, cockroaches and fleas and as an active ingredient in pet flea and tick collars.  It has also been used on school grounds and playing fields as a form of pest control.

 

Recently another form of chemical, plasticizers, have raised red flags among researchers on their safety or lack thereof. One of these chemicals that has hit the radar is bisphenol A (BPA), which is used to make many different baby products such as bottles, sippy cups and pacifiers. Studies have shown that people with higher concentrations of it in their system were more likely to have cardiovascular disease, diabetes and abnormal liver enzyme concentrations.