On behalf to Germany people’s health, government has list of banned chemicals in Germany. Furthermore, based on European regulations, German has restricted and prohibited most dangerous chemicals in the world, such as pentachlorophenol, formaldehyde, and dibenzofurans. All of hazardous substances which affects human’s health and environment are banned in Germany.
Here are the specific list of chemicals which banned in Germany.
- Glyphosate
WHO has classified glyphosate as a “probably carcinogenic to human”. Glyphosate is a herbicide which can be described as an organophosphorous compound and poorly absorbed from digestive tract. Glyphosate exposure induces breast cancer cell growth via estrogen receptors. Glyphosate can also damage DNA in cultured human cells.
- Mercury
Mercury (Hg), which is known as quicksilver is a shiny, silvery liquid metal. Mercury is the only metal which is in a liquid form at room temperature and pressure. This substance can be inhaled and cause any threat for children in uterus and baby. Mercury can be poisonous to humans, including digestive and immune system, respiration system, kidney, skin, and eyes. Mercury has been considered by WHO as one of top ten chemicals which cause any public health concern.
- Organotin compounds
Organotin compounds are kind of metal, which have four main groups, based on the number of organic groups contained: tetra-, tri-, di-, and mono-organotin compounds. This organic compound can be alkyl chain or aromatic ring. Tetraorganic tin compounds are mainly used as a raw material for the manufacturing of other tin organic compounds.
Triorganic tin compounds are used as biocidal agents and in wood preservative and antifouling paints. It is a hazardous substance for environment. Mono-and diorganic tin compounds are used as stabilizers in plastic production. All of organic compounds can affect human’s immune system and irritate skin and eyes.
- Musk xylene
Musk xylene is a C-nitro compound which has three nitro substituents at positions 2, 4, and 6. It could be an explosive substance and carcinogenic substance, which mainly used in fragrance and soaps. Musk xylene is a white to light-colored crystalline solid, which is insoluble in water. It can contact with skin, eyes, and any other mucous membranes which cause any irritation.
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs are a group of man-made organic chemicals which consists of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms. PCBs are oil to waxy solid which have no known taste or smell. PCBs are belonged to chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs have properties of inflammable, chemical-stabilized, high boiling point, and electricity.
PCB is one of chemicals which have been used in everyday life products, such as pigments, dyes, plasticizers, oil used in motors and hydraulic systems, and much more. Consumption of PCBs causes any adverse effects on human’s health. It could cause any cancer, including immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system, and etc.
- Cadmium
Cadmium is a metal which is bluish to white and can be easily cut using knife. Cadmium has an excellent conductor properties and often used in batteries. Cadmium is a substance which could wield any effects for kidney, skeletal and respiratory system, and has been classified as carcinogenic materials. Furthermore, this substance could damage DNA. This substance’s exposed body mainly through inhalation and contaminated food.
- Dichloromethane
Dichloromethane, which is renowned as methylene chloride, is a clear and slightly sweet smelling organic chemical which has been used in a variety of industries, especially in chemical processes because its ability in dissolving several organic compounds.
Moreover, dichloromethane has been used as an active ingredient in organic-based paint strippers and aerosols for insecticides and spray paint. Dichloromethane has been classified as neurotoxin and has been proven to cause any damage for brain and central nervous system. Even, this substance exposure could cause any problems for liver and lung.
- CFCs
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is an organic compound which contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, and has been produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane. CFC has been renowned as Freon in refrigerator or air conditioner. Actually, this substance has a non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-carcinogenic properties. However, it can be classified affect a serious environmental threat. It can damage ozone layer which has been used as earth’s protection from sun’s ultraviolet.
- PCP
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide and fungicide. It is mainly used in order to protect timber from fungal rot and wood-boring insects. PCP is very toxic for plants and has been used as general herbicides. Moreover, it is a very toxic chemical and has been labeled with danger signal word.
The route of exposure is mainly from skin penetration, besides inhalation and ingestion. Chronic exposure of this substance can cause any impact for reproductive system. Mutagenic effect and carcinogenic effect has not been clearly stated and demonstrated for PCP. But, from research nowadays, PCP could cause any problems for lung, kidney, and skin.
- PCDD/PCDF
Dioxin (PCDD-F) is a group of polychlorobenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs). Both of them have been classified in International Toxic Equivalents. Dioxin emissions can be from natural or industrial sources. Dioxins can be resulted from forest fires and volcanic eruptions. Dioxans are very stable, not easily biodegrade and can accumulate easily in environment and living organism.
Dioxin is a one of list toxic chemicals severely restricted import export and can be accumulated because it will easily absorbed by fat becoming an energy deposit. In a short time period, the exposure could cause lesion on skin, such as skin coloring and changes of liver function. However, on a long time exposure, it could affect our immune system, nervous system, endocrine system, and reproductive system. Moreover, it could cause any cancer.
- Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a compound which made of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon and has been classified as harmful chemicals in the environment. All living organism has produced formaldehyde as a part of cell metabolism. Formaldehyde is also known for its preservative and antibacterial properties.
Formaldehyde itself is an essential building block chemical for production of hundred items in everyday products. However, this study could be accumulated in the body and cause any harm for health, such as cancer of blood or renowned as leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer.
- N-containing fertilizers
- Nitrates
- Diuron, isoproturon, terbutylazine, dichlorprop, mecoprop, atrazine, chloridazon, chlorotoluron, lindane
- Meta-benzthiazuron, melamitron, thiazaphos
- Ametryn, dimethoate, parathionmethyl, prometryn, propazine, atrazine, simazine
- Hexachlorobenzene, trichloromethane, nitrobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene
List of chemicals banned in Germany has to be avoided. Never try to contact with all of those hazardous substance in order to avoid any unwanted situation.