Glossary

Decode the eco-speak with our friendly glossary list of green buzzwords and certifications.

Dicambra: A common household and agricultural herbicide, Dicambra can cause loss of appetite, loss of weight, vomiting, depressions, general tenseness and muscular weakness. It is an irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Airplane application increases the potential for exposure to humans, livestock, and wildlife due to air drift.
Diethanolamine (DEA): Found in sunscreens, cosmetics, car washes and hand soap. DEA is a possible endocrine disruptor, has shown limited evidence of carcinogenicity, and depletes the body of choline, needed for in utero brain development. DEA can also show up as a contaminant in products containing its related chemicals such as cocamide DEA. See Triethanolamine
d-Limonene: Commonly found in citrus-based cleaners, d-Limonene is a high-odor volatile organic compound (VOC) that irritates skin and eyes. It's also been found to cause tumors in laboratory animals.
Dioxins: Persistent organic pollutants and known carcinogens that work their way up the food chain, posing a threat both to wildlife and to people. Dioxins can be formed during the manufacture or incineration of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), in the process of chlorine-bleaching paper and as a byproduct of herbicide manufacturing. Dioxins are also endocrine disruptors, substances that can interfere with the body's natural hormone signals, and they can damage the immune system and may affect reproduction and childhood development. Furthermore, dioxins build up in animal fat, and we may be exposed to them when eating fatty meats, whole milk or full-fat yogurt. See Organochlorines